§ Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money was given to the Wessex Flood Defence Committee in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [161880]
§ Mr. Morley: The Environment Agency is required to arrange for its flood defence functions, except for certain financial ones, to be carried out by Regional Flood Defence Committees (RFDCs). The RFDC may arrange for all or an) of these functions to be carried out by Local Flood Defence Committees (LFDCs) under a scheme approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
I understand from the Agency that the total of Defra grant and levies on local authorities for the three local flood defence committees under the Wessex RFDC was £23.2 million in 2002–03 and is estimated to be £25.5 million in 2000–04.
Other funding is obtained from developers and district councils for specific projects.
§ Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under which powers the Environment Agency is charging for maps of flood risk areas; and if she will make a statement. [161961]
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§ Mr. Morley: Where charges are made to certain businesses for specific requirements, the Environment Agency's power to charge derives from the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 (as amended) and from sections 37 and 43 of the Environment Act 1995.