§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the recent increased assessment of flood risk in the South East; and if she will make a statement. [170837]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government welcome the report "Foresight Future Flooding" by Professor Sir David King published through the Office of Science and Technology on 22 April.
Currently nearly two million properties are at risk of flooding in the UK from rivers and the sea and a further 80,000 are at risk from heavy downpours that overwhelm drains in urban areas. Under future scenarios in the report and assuming our approval to flood risk management does not change then annual damages could rise substantially by the 2080s. The areas at greatest risk include the South East Coast. We therefore face major challenges in managing these potential risks and associated costs.
The Government are considering the implications of the report and we intend to address the findings in an initial response through a consultation document for a new flood and coastal defence strategy that I hope to publish in the summer.
Each major stakeholder is committed to delivering a number of actions and my Department will oversee progress.