§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what specific resources have been allocated to river and coastal flood defences between 2005–06 and 2007–08; and if she will make a statement. [186569]
§ Mr. MorleyDefra funds most of the Environment Agency's flood defence activities and provides grant aid on a project-by-project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their investment in improvement projects to manage flood and coastal erosion risk.
The Department plans to invest at least £564 million each year between 2005–06 and 2007–08 in the management of flood and coastal erosion risk and related expenditure. The amount for flood defence projects (as opposed to projects primarily for coastal erosion or other activities such as fu#ding of the Storm Tide Forecasting Service) will be decided later this year.