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2006-07 (591)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2007, Official Report, column 85W, on flood control: finance, when he plans to publish the set of criteria which has been developed to provide greater clarity on what funding and policies...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2007, Official Report, column 85W, on flood control: finance, when he plans to publish the set of criteria which has been developed to provide greater clarity on what funding and policies...
Asked by
Lord Spicer
(Conservative)
Answered by
Phil Woolas
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 October 2007
For answer on
30 October 2007
Answered on
30 October 2007
Following public consultation, new Outcome Measures for flood and coastal erosion risk management were agreed in June and the details have been published on the DEFRA website.It is anticipated that the Outcome Measures will be used to set targets progressively during the period covered by the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, starting with the capital programme in 2008-09. An initial review is planned for the second half of 2008 to inform any Spending Review in 2009.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
30 October 2007
Reference
465 c1103W; 161854
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to improve building design and urban design to manage surface water better.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to improve building design and urban design to manage surface water better.
Asked by
Claire Curtis-Thomas
(Labour)
Answered by
Phil Woolas
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 October 2007
For answer on
25 October 2007
Answered on
30 October 2007
We expect to make a range of announcements on how to better manage surface water drainage in the upcoming Government Water Strategy. This will take on board the recommendations set out in Sir Michael Pitt's interim report on Lessons Learned, due out later this year; and results emerging from the 15 pilot projects on urban drainage that DEFRA is currently funding.For new development, the Government are encouraging use of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS). These comprise a variety of techniques ranging from source control to infiltration, conveyance and storage features. Building Regulations provide guidance on the incorporation of SUDS in drainage systems, stating that the preferred option for surface water drainage should be to an adequate soakaway or other infiltration system.In addition, the Government's recently strengthened guidance on development and flood risk, PPS25, encourages operating authorities to consider a more holistic approach to managing surface water, for example through the development of Surface Water Management Plans.
Subjects
Flood control
Date
30 October 2007
Reference
161101; 465 c1103W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will give the Environment Agency a veto on planning applications on floodplains.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will give the Environment Agency a veto on planning applications on floodplains.
Asked by
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
(Conservative)
Answered by
Yvette Cooper
(Labour)
Answering body
Communities and Local Government
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 July 2007
For answer on
25 July 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
As part of the Government's 'Making Space for Water strategy' for flood and coastal erosion risk management, we have strengthened the role of the Environment Agency, to ensure effective management of flood risk to new development:"i) In October 2006 we made the Environment Agency a statutory consultee on all planning applications in flood risk areas, and applications on large sites outside them, which might add to flood risk elsewhere.""ii) On 1 January this year we introduced a planning Direction on flooding, so that where a local planning authority intends to approve a major application against which the Environment Agency has a sustained objection, we consider whether to call it in for decision by the Secretary of State."Taken with the clearer and stronger policy in Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25), we think this will ensure that flood risk is taken account of at all stages in the planning process whilst retaining the decision making role of the local authority.
Subjects
Flood control; Environment Agency; Planning permission
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
152876; 465 c673W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much it cost the Environment Agency to (a) write and assemble, (b) print and (c) distribute the Yorkshire Derwent Catchment Flood Management Plan.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much it cost the Environment Agency to (a) write and assemble, (b) print and (c) distribute the Yorkshire Derwent Catchment Flood Management Plan.
Asked by
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
(Conservative)
Answered by
Phil Woolas
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 October 2007
For answer on
24 October 2007
Answered on
29 October 2007
The Catchment Flood Management Plan for the river Derwent was one of the national pilot plans, and as such much 'shaping' work was done in this plan, which cost £250,000 to write and assemble.This includes all work to produce the various stages of draft and final plan. Print and distribution costs will amount to an estimated £1,000.
Subjects
Flood control; Floods; Yorkshire and the Humber
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
465 c727-8W; 160728
House
House of Commons
Following this summer's flooding, my survey of 4,000 households in my constituency tells me that people would support my right hon. Friend's Department giving incentives to landowners to manage their land in ways that help to prevent floods—not just the normal daily work of keeping watercourses and gullies free from obstructions but proactively, for example, by creating new water meadows and other wetland. Will he change the conditions for the single payment and the schemes for stewardship of land in order to give that incentive to landowners?
Following this summer's flooding, my survey of 4,000 households in my constituency tells me that people would support my right hon. Friend's Department giving incentives to landowners to manage their land in ways that help to prevent floods—not just the normal daily work of keeping watercourses and gullies free from obstructions but proactively, for example, by creating new water meadows and other wetland. Will he change the conditions for the single payment and the schemes for stewardship of land in order to give that incentive to landowners?
Asked by
David Kidney
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 October 2007
My hon. Friend raises an interesting and important point. Of course, there is already land that naturally floods during the winter, but the problem for some of the farmers whom I met was that they did not expect it to flood in that way during the summer, so it came at a bad time of the year and affected their ability to get their crops out of the ground. Yes, the Environment Agency does need to consider all the ways in which we can accommodate astonishing flows of water of the kind that we saw in June and July.
It is debatable whether landowners have to be paid to do that because in the winter they provide such flood capacity naturally. However, one lesson that we have learned from all of this—Sir Michael Pitt will be drawing all of them together in his lessons-learned review—is that we have to look at the inter-relationship of the ways in which water can escape when we have the astonishing amount of rainfall that we experienced during the summer. If my hon. Friend has not already done so, he might like to pass on the result of his consultation to Sir Michael Pitt so that he can consider it in his review.
Subjects
Flood control; Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c392
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
May I record my personal thanks to the Association of British Insurers, the managing director of which visited the Vale of York when it was flooded for the second time in 2005? Does the Secretary of State see fit to give an undertaking that water companies in future will be consulted on all new developments on the flood plain so that they can ascertain whether they should go ahead rather than being deemed fit simply to connect water and sewerage to new developments?
In reply to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) about the involvement of too many bodies, the Secretary of State referred to predicting ways in which water will escape. Does he acknowledge that too many bodies are involved in mapping future flood risk? They include the Met Office, the Environment Agency, the ABI, individual insurance companies and district councils. Should not one body be made responsible for mapping possible future flood risk?
May I record my personal thanks to the Association of British Insurers, the managing director of which visited the Vale of York when it was flooded for the second time in 2005? Does the Secretary of State see fit to give an undertaking that water companies in future will be consulted on all new developments on the flood plain so that they can ascertain whether they should go ahead rather than being deemed fit simply to connect water and sewerage to new developments?
In reply to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) about the involvement of too many bodies, the Secretary of State referred to predicting ways in which water will escape. Does he acknowledge that too many bodies are involved in mapping future flood risk? They include the Met Office, the Environment Agency, the ABI, individual insurance companies and district councils. Should not one body be made responsible for mapping possible future flood risk?
Asked by
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 October 2007
On the second point, there is a problem, especially in relation to surface water flooding. Although the Environment Agency maps for river flooding, it is hard, if not impossible, to predict where surface water flooding will occur because one has to know the volume of rain that will fall, exactly where it will fall and the gradient of the ground, and then assess the capacity of the drainage system. It is a problem, but I am sure that Sir Michael Pitt's review will consider it.
Water companies' interest is principally in the capacity to supply water to new developments. In the context of flood risk, the Environment Agency, to which we have given a statutory right to be consulted, is the body whose views we need to hear. However, all those matters should be considered because I am determined that we learn lessons so that we can do better in future.
Subjects
Flood control; Insurance; Floods; York
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c394
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
In addition to welcoming the sensible suggestions made by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) about managing river valleys so that their uplands are not intensively farmed or left in a situation where flood water can rush down them, will the Secretary of State consider earmarking some of the welcome investment in flood relief and flood defence schemes for the overhauling of antiquated surface water drainage systems? They are not up to the job, and caused as many problems as flooding from river valleys itself.
In addition to welcoming the sensible suggestions made by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) about managing river valleys so that their uplands are not intensively farmed or left in a situation where flood water can rush down them, will the Secretary of State consider earmarking some of the welcome investment in flood relief and flood defence schemes for the overhauling of antiquated surface water drainage systems? They are not up to the job, and caused as many problems as flooding from river valleys itself.
Asked by
Martin Salter
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 October 2007
Now that I have announced the phasing of the increase in funding over the next three years, the Environment Agency will be in a position to plan. It will need to talk to local authorities about surface water drainage. The truth about such drainage is that we have a system that was built between 100 and 150 years ago, at a time when people did not expect to have to cope with the amounts of water that we have recently seen. The second problem is that we have concreted, covered with tarmac and paved over a lot of the surface land in our towns and cities, so when it rains to such an extent, there are fewer places for the water to go. It is not soaked up by the ground that is already saturated. Those are some of the lessons we have to learn. It will be a combination of improving capacity and ensuring that new drainage is built to a higher specification than was the case in the past, but we need to ask what more we can do in towns and cities to improve capacity to enable water to run off when we have rain of that sort.
Subjects
Flood control; Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c393
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I appreciate the Secretary of State's interest in the impact of flooding in Gloucestershire, and in my constituency in particular. There are two issues that I would like him to raise with the insurers. First, is it wise to keep building planned houses on areas that flooded in July, like Leckhampton in my constituency? Will the homes built there be insurable at any economic premium? Secondly, will the insurers be able to expedite payments to small businesses affected by the flooding? Many of them are still waiting for compensation months later, with an obvious impact on their cash flow, their bank charges and the interest that they pay on their overdrafts.
I appreciate the Secretary of State's interest in the impact of flooding in Gloucestershire, and in my constituency in particular. There are two issues that I would like him to raise with the insurers. First, is it wise to keep building planned houses on areas that flooded in July, like Leckhampton in my constituency? Will the homes built there be insurable at any economic premium? Secondly, will the insurers be able to expedite payments to small businesses affected by the flooding? Many of them are still waiting for compensation months later, with an obvious impact on their cash flow, their bank charges and the interest that they pay on their overdrafts.
Asked by
Martin Horwood
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 October 2007
On the second point, I am happy to pass on the hon. Gentleman's point to the industry. However, from my conversations with many people who were affected, including those in his constituency, and with hon. Members, it appears that the insurance industry responded well by and large in terms of sending assessors. I understand the point about payment; quite a lot has already been paid out.
On the first point, the hon. Gentleman knows that we have considerably strengthened the guidance in planning policy statement 25. We have given the Environment Agency, which is the expert on where there is a risk of flooding, a statutory right to be consulted. Ministers, of course, have a right to call in proposals. In the light of the strengthened guidance, it is a continuing responsibility on local authorities to ask themselves whether, if they intend to build on a flood plain, they can adequately defend against a risk that is increasing because the climate is changing. Approximately 2 million homes in the country are built on a flood plain. The building that we are in now is on a flood plain, but it has a defence. Local authorities must weigh that up when making decisions so that we do not add to the problems.
Subjects
Flood control; Insurance; Floods; Gloucestershire
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c393-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on council tax bills of the recent flooding in the worst flood-hit areas.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on council tax bills of the recent flooding in the worst flood-hit areas.
Asked by
Grant Shapps
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Healey
(Labour)
Answering body
Communities and Local Government
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 July 2007
For answer on
8 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
Decisions on the level of council tax are a matter for individual authorities. To date the Government has made available a significant package of over 46 million to support areas affected by the flooding of June and July 2007. This includes:"£17,390,000 in Flood Recovery Grant released to local authorities affected by the floods to support their work in helping those in greatest and most immediate need.""£13,288,000 released to schools and children's services affected by the floods""An initial £3 million for local authorities to repair damage to the local highway""Over £11 million from Regional Development Agencies for businesses affected in their regions""£1 million for use by Jobcentre Plus to support additional demand for Social Fund Community Care Grants""£1 million to support rural tourism in England through promoting rural destinations and visitor attractions and a targeted marketing campaign."This is additional money to that available under the Bellwin scheme which provides emergency financial assistance from Government to local authorities, to help meet the uninsurable costs of immediate action to safeguard life or property or prevent severe inconvenience to inhabitants in the case of an emergency or disaster. In recognition of the exceptional nature of the recent flooding we have made it easier for local authorities to claim back additional costs from Government through the Bellwin scheme by significantly extending the period for which authorities can claim and increasing the proportion of costs they can receive in support grants to 100 per cent. above threshold.
Subjects
Council tax; Flood control; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
153797; 465 c510W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the protection of key civil installations from flooding.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the protection of key civil installations from flooding.
Asked by
Lord Harper
(Conservative)
Answered by
Hilary Benn
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 October 2007
For answer on
25 October 2007
Answered on
25 October 2007
The operators of critical infrastructure are responsible for contingency planning to ensure continuity of service. This is also being considered by the independent review of the summer flooding, being led by Sir Michael Pitt.
Subjects
Flood control; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
160588; 465 c522W
House
House of Commons
I thank the Minister for that answer. He will be aware that it is now estimated that more than £3 billion is to be paid out by the insurance industry. How can my constituents be sure of keeping their flood insurance cover when only just over 40 per cent. of flood defences are properly maintained by the Environment Agency and when the increase in flood defence spending by 2010-11 will return us only to the level that we were at in 2004, before this year's devastating floods? Can he give reassurance to my constituents and confirm that those in rural areas will not be neglected in order to put all the emphasis on urban areas?
I thank the Minister for that answer. He will be aware that it is now estimated that more than £3 billion is to be paid out by the insurance industry. How can my constituents be sure of keeping their flood insurance cover when only just over 40 per cent. of flood defences are properly maintained by the Environment Agency and when the increase in flood defence spending by 2010-11 will return us only to the level that we were at in 2004, before this year's devastating floods? Can he give reassurance to my constituents and confirm that those in rural areas will not be neglected in order to put all the emphasis on urban areas?
Asked by
Graham Stuart
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 October 2007
The hon. Gentleman and I have discussed this issue so I am very aware of the impact that the flooding had on his constituents in Burstwick and Hedon. I would say to his constituents that the increase in funding that I announced at the beginning of July and the way in which that is going to be phased in between now and 2010-11 is a direct response to the requests that many people have made of us, including the Association of British Insurers. In June, it asked us to get up to £750 million a year by 2010-11; in fact, we are going to be spending £800 million a year by 2010-11. That is why, when I announced that figure, the ABI said that this was the news that homeowners had wanted to hear. I recognise that there has been a second round of flooding since then. I am very keen that we continue to work in partnership with the ABI as we significantly increase spending on flood defence, building on the doubling of investment over the past decade so that we can keep that statement of principles in place and therefore protect the hon. Gentleman's constituents.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control; Insurance; Floods
Date
25 October 2007
Reference
465 c391-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish a report on the need for a second Thames barrier.
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish a report on the need for a second Thames barrier.
Asked by
Lord Roberts of Conwy
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 October 2007
The Environment Agency is currently undertaking its ““Thames Estuary 2100”” project to deliver a flood risk management plan for the tidal Thames through to the end of the century.
It will recommend what will be required to manage increasing flood risk, and when it will be required, depending on the impacts of climate change. An assessment of the current estuary defences, including the Thames Barrier, and the options for future flood risk management will be included in this research.
The project is due to report its recommendations to the Government at the end of 2009. Findings currently indicate that the defences provide a better standard of protection than previously understood and so are unlikely to require any major changes until after 2030.
Subjects
Flood control; River Thames
Date
23 October 2007
Reference
5576; 695 c102-3WA
House
House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which the funds for flood defences will be dispersed throughout the country.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which the funds for flood defences will be dispersed throughout the country.
Asked by
Lord Spicer
(Conservative)
Answered by
Phil Woolas
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 October 2007
For answer on
22 October 2007
Answered on
22 October 2007
Following public consultation, a set of criteria has been developed to provide greater clarity on what funding and policies for flood and coastal erosion risk management are intended to achieve.The public consultation also included criteria for priorities. We are now working with the Environment Agency to develop an effective prioritisation process for the capital programme. Allocation of funds for maintenance works is undertaken by the Agency on the basis of their asset management strategy. This takes account of risk.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
159861; 465 c85W
House
House of Commons
My Lords, one of the features of the summer floods was the vulnerability of key public services, such as electricity, water and sewerage. Can the Minister assure us that the protection of these vital installations is being given the highest priority and will he say who is paying for the work?
My Lords, one of the features of the summer floods was the vulnerability of key public services, such as electricity, water and sewerage. Can the Minister assure us that the protection of these vital installations is being given the highest priority and will he say who is paying for the work?
Asked by
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 October 2007
My Lords, I am extremely grateful for that question because it gives me the chance for the first time to pay tribute to the people who protected that sub-power station at Walham. The fact is that all we ever saw on television—this is not to knock them at all—were the Army and the police. But it was Environment Agency staff who got the equipment because they spotted what was happening at that station a few hours earlier; it was they who got stuff from a store that was used elsewhere and worked their socks off. They were, of course, assisted by the Army in completing the exercise to protect the sub-power station. I know that thanks are not always given, because the Environment Agency is not classed as an emergency service, but it certainly was one in protecting that sub-power station at Walham.
As I said in answer to a question at the end of last week, the Environment Agency has identified 5,000 infrastructure sites in England and Wales as having a probability of flooding greater than one in 75. I will not list them all, but they include sewage works, schools, health centres and power stations. Work is going on to assess these. It is for the users and owners of those properties to ensure that they have adequate flood defences—that is their prime responsibility—but the Environment Agency is overseeing this because we now have the list.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
695 c849
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, given the floods that took place earlier this year in the south Midlands and Yorkshire, when will the Environment Agency provide the Government with a comprehensive report covering what happened and how we might come up with a detailed strategy to make sure, in the most cost-efficient way, that those types of floods do not happen again. We need a factual look at what happened and how we can prevent this in the future.
My Lords, given the floods that took place earlier this year in the south Midlands and Yorkshire, when will the Environment Agency provide the Government with a comprehensive report covering what happened and how we might come up with a detailed strategy to make sure, in the most cost-efficient way, that those types of floods do not happen again. We need a factual look at what happened and how we can prevent this in the future.
Asked by
Lord Teverson
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 October 2007
My Lords, an independent review chaired by Sir Michael Pitt is going on at the moment, but I do not have the date on which the report on the lessons learnt from the flooding is due. While I do not know about all areas of the country, I should say that in the south Midlands over six inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours. With the best will in the world, our flood defences and the water courses would not have been able to deal with that. It happened in the middle of the growing season and caused considerable damage. More damage was caused to land in the south Midlands and more damage was caused to property in the north of England. The report is independent; people are giving evidence and we look forward to receiving it in due course.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
695 c848-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I can say only that I have exactly the same brief as I used last Tuesday. The figures and, indeed, the Question, are exactly the same, and the answer regarding insurance companies is also exactly the same. We are working with the Association of British Insurers and we are meeting the statement of principles. Indeed, the figure that I have given for 2010-11 is more than the Association of British Insurers was asking for before the recent floods. These are minimum figures, but there is some doubt about whether more can be spent in the first two years. Just chucking money at this will not necessarily solve it if you do not get value for money. We have a planned increase in expenditure and it is being done in line with the insurance industry.
My Lords, I can say only that I have exactly the same brief as I used last Tuesday. The figures and, indeed, the Question, are exactly the same, and the answer regarding insurance companies is also exactly the same. We are working with the Association of British Insurers and we are meeting the statement of principles. Indeed, the figure that I have given for 2010-11 is more than the Association of British Insurers was asking for before the recent floods. These are minimum figures, but there is some doubt about whether more can be spent in the first two years. Just chucking money at this will not necessarily solve it if you do not get value for money. We have a planned increase in expenditure and it is being done in line with the insurance industry.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Sheikh
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I would like to declare an interest as chairman and chief executive of an insurance broking organisation. My industry has suffered losses approaching £3 billion following the recent flood damage. Will the Minister ask the Government to think again about this, otherwise I am afraid that there could be further problems with regard to the provision of insurance cover?
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
695 c847-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, did the Minister read the reports in this weekend’s newspapers that the projections show that the population of this country will be 75 million by 2051? Many, many more houses and other infrastructure buildings will be required if that happens to be the case. Will he assure me that the Government will resist all the additional pressures to build on flood plains?
My Lords, did the Minister read the reports in this weekend’s newspapers that the projections show that the population of this country will be 75 million by 2051? Many, many more houses and other infrastructure buildings will be required if that happens to be the case. Will he assure me that the Government will resist all the additional pressures to build on flood plains?
Asked by
Lord Stoddart of Swindon
(Independent Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 October 2007
Well, yes, my Lords. I am not going to comment on the potential increase in the population either of the planet or of the country, because that is a sensitive matter, although frankly it is not discussed enough. However, the issue raised by the noble Lord is important. Unlike two or three years ago, the Environment Agency is now a statutory consultee and, again unlike a couple of years ago, if the Environment Agency says that a local authority is about to give planning permission on a flood plain and points to risk, Ministers now have the power to call in such planning applications.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
695 c849-50
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, has any thought been given to making grants available to people who have suffered flood damage to build their own flood defences in the same way that the Government give grants for loft insulation and things of that type?
My Lords, has any thought been given to making grants available to people who have suffered flood damage to build their own flood defences in the same way that the Government give grants for loft insulation and things of that type?
Asked by
Baroness Gardner of Parkes
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 October 2007
My Lords, between 2005 and 2008, around 100,000 dwellings in this country are going to get better flood defences as part of the programme, but there are some areas where it is incredibly difficult to do this on a grand scale. Individual schemes are about, but I do not know whether there are grants as such. Programmes are in place, particularly to defend the infrastructure. Some 5,000 infrastructure projects to provide better defences are being surveyed at the moment. However, as I say, there are some areas where this is difficult to do and a one-off solution may be required.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
695 c848
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I would like to declare an interest as chairman and chief executive of an insurance broking organisation. My industry has suffered losses approaching £3 billion following the recent flood damage. Will the Minister ask the Government to think again about this, otherwise I am afraid that there could be further problems with regard to the provision of insurance cover?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I would like to declare an interest as chairman and chief executive of an insurance broking organisation. My industry has suffered losses approaching £3 billion following the recent flood damage. Will the Minister ask the Government to think again about this, otherwise I am afraid that there could be further problems with regard to the provision of insurance cover?
Asked by
Lord Sheikh
(Conservative)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 October 2007
My Lords, I can say only that I have exactly the same brief as I used last Tuesday. The figures and, indeed, the Question, are exactly the same, and the answer regarding insurance companies is also exactly the same. We are working with the Association of British Insurers and we are meeting the statement of principles. Indeed, the figure that I have given for 2010-11 is more than the Association of British Insurers was asking for before the recent floods. These are minimum figures, but there is some doubt about whether more can be spent in the first two years. Just chucking money at this will not necessarily solve it if you do not get value for money. We have a planned increase in expenditure and it is being done in line with the insurance industry.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control; Insurance; Floods
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
695 c847-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, annual government spending on flood and coastal erosion risk management will rise to a minimum of £650 million in 2008-09, £700 million in 2009-10 and £800 million by 2010-11. These figures are the minimum that we propose to spend in each of the coming years, but it is too early to determine whether these will be the final allocations or whether it will be possible to go further.
My Lords, annual government spending on flood and coastal erosion risk management will rise to a minimum of £650 million in 2008-09, £700 million in 2009-10 and £800 million by 2010-11. These figures are the minimum that we propose to spend in each of the coming years, but it is too early to determine whether these will be the final allocations or whether it will be possible to go further.
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Sheikh
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Whether they will bring forward the increased spending allocations for flood defences from 2010-11 to 2008-09.
Subjects
Finance; Flood control
Date
22 October 2007
Reference
695 c847
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords