<p>The Government is investing £2.5 billion over six years on improving flood defences (up until 2021). This is a real terms increase in capital investment – up from £1.7 billion in the last Parliament and £1.5 billion between 2005 and 2010. We are exceeding our manifesto commitment by building 1,500 new flood defence schemes that will better protect over 300,000 more homes.</p><p> </p><p>The capital programme is built up of flood and coastal erosion schemes developed and promoted by local authorities, internal drainage boards and the Environment Agency in collaboration with communities.</p><p> </p><p>Separate to this, the budget – or resource Departmental Expenditure Limit (RDEL) – and full time equivalent workforce (FTE) figures for Core Defra’s flood management team (i.e. not including flood management teams in Defra’s Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies), which is responsible for developing policy on flood risk management and responding to emergencies including flood, is set out below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>FY</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Core Defra flood management and Emergencies RDEL (£m)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Core Defra Flood Management and Emergencies FTE</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>11/12</strong></p></td><td><p>36.0</p></td><td><p>31.67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>12/13</strong></p></td><td><p>43.6</p></td><td><p>31.67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>13/14</strong></p></td><td><p>25.4</p></td><td><p>35.47</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>14/15</strong></p></td><td><p>25.4</p></td><td><p>37.47</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>15/16</strong></p></td><td><p>15.9</p></td><td><p>37.70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>16/17</strong></p></td><td><p>8.1</p></td><td><p>40.0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The change in RDEL over the last 6 years is explained primarily by the gradual transfer of funding for councils’ Lead Local Flood Authority roles (LLFAs) from Defra to the Department for Communities and Local Government. This began in FY 13/14; FY 16/17 is the first year DCLG was responsible for all of central Government’s funding for LLFAs.</p><p><em> </em></p>