Storm Henk

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Mr Duncan asks about the impact on businesses in his constituency that have suffered significant damage due to flooding. He enquires how they can be supported through the business recovery grant scheme and flood resilience repair grants.

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Mr Rehman inquires about measures taken for schools that were flooded, such as the primary school in Heighington. How are these schools being supported to reopen quickly?

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Ms Sarah raises concerns about insurance costs for homes in her constituency which are at high risk of flooding. She seeks clarity on whether the Government’s Flood Re scheme will continue to support homeowners.

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The MP criticised the Government's response to Storm Henk, questioning why Cobra meetings were not called despite significant damage. He also raised concerns about unspent flood defence budgets and poor condition of defences. The shadow proposed a Cobra-style taskforce for winter meetings and asked about mapping at-risk communities, funding usage, and conversations with insurers.

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The MP thanked the Minister for prompt action and asked whether Shropshire would be eligible for the flood recovery framework.

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The MP highlighted the importance of delivering schemes not just announcing funding sums. He asked about funding levels for future flooding events.

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The MP congratulated the minister on his statement and asked about funding for frequently flooded communities, particularly in Worcester.

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The MP criticised the Government's lack of action and called for ambitious climate policies rather than just cleaning up after events.

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Thanks the Minister for his efforts and expresses concern about mental health impacts on communities affected by extreme weather events. Asks for reassurance that people will be supported beyond immediate emergency response.

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Discusses significant damage caused by Storm Gerrit's tornado in Tameside. Asks what extra capacity will be provided to bolster civil contingency and resilience for non-frequent weather events.

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Complains about Environment Agency's prioritisation of wildlife preservation over clearing dykes, requests action on compensation for flood plains.

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Expresses concern about farmers being at the bottom of the priority list for flood risk management. Asks how many farms have received support through countryside stewardship schemes.

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Reports severe flooding in Rutland and nearby areas. Asks if Rutland County Council has submitted data to Environment Agency for support.

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Describes flooding in his constituency and asks if the Minister will consider implementing a flood resilience taskforce.

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Asks about potential benefits of river dredging in Tewkesbury due to flooding issues at confluence of two main rivers.

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Asks about discussions on managing the upper Severn catchment, funding for clearing culverts and drains, and eligibility criteria for frequently flooded allowance.

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Thanks to a £10 million investment and a pledge to “get Bewdley done”, the eastern bank of the River Severn in the town of Bewdley is receiving flood defences. However, during construction, temporary defences cannot be put up for around 30 properties. What more can be done to protect these residences during the construction period?

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After Storm Henk caused significant flooding in Tamworth villages such as Harlaston, Edingale and Elford, what budget has been confirmed for improving flood defences in the area and when will further defences be built?

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What discussions has the Minister had or will have with Thames Water about protecting public health infrastructure from rainwater and limiting discharges during heavy rainfall?

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In Somerset, communities are creating their own bespoke extreme weather resilience plans in identified catchment areas. Will provisions be introduced to help them implement these?

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In Blaby, Broughton Astley, Cosby, Croft, Stoney Stanton, Sharnford, and Whetstone in South Leicestershire, 350 properties were flooded. What Government support is available to these villages?

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What discussions has the Minister had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about increasing financial assistance due to heavy rains in Northern Ireland?

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The Environment Agency is not clearing vegetation and debris that contribute to flooding. Will the Minister consider giving funds and responsibility for larger waterways to internal drainage boards doing a good job?

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Why has the Environment Agency’s own plan for flood alleviation in Abingdon been axed? Would the Minister consider meeting to discuss this?

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Will the Minister work with her and the Environment Agency to ensure important flood schemes in Severn Stoke and Tenbury Wells are delivered during his tenure?

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How can red tape be removed to prevent further home destruction in Pakefield, East Anglian coast?

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The flooding Minister visited Alney Island in Gloucester early this morning. I thank him, the Environment Agency, the city council and all who helped mitigate the situation. Some 80 homes in Gloucester have been flooded—one home is one too many, but that compares with more than 5,000 homes and businesses flooded in 2007 with very similar water levels, 48,000 people without electricity and 135,000 without drinking water for a week. The huge investment into the defences for Mythe waterworks, Walham substation, Horsbere brook and the Westgate drainage scheme, and other aspects of the Conservative Government’s Pitt review, have made a massive difference. Will my hon. Friend commit to looking closely at the Severn partnership’s proposals for a strategic new reservoir to hold back water in Wales in due course?

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I thank the Minister for his very sensible comments on dredging. When does he expect some further movement on that? Can he say where he thinks the priorities should lie between protecting the farm land we need to grow our food and maintaining wildlife habitat?

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I thank my hon. Friend for his statement and for very promptly triggering the flood recovery network. I note that there are a number of local authorities adjacent to mine in Swindon. I want to take this opportunity to ask him to meet me to discuss whether smaller unitary authorities such as Swindon sometimes miss out. The number of incidents might be smaller, but I can tell him from my own experience as an active constituency MP that the impact is just as great.

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I am grateful to the Minister for his visit to various parts of Nottinghamshire this week to see the impact on many of our communities. I reiterate his thanks to the many hundreds of staff, and community flood wardens and other volunteers in our communities, who have been working around the clock in recent days. He will have seen the impact on our infrastructure locally. Part of the recovery and the prevention of future flooding impacts is about reinstating and recovering that infrastructure—not least our roads, which have taken a massive hit in recent days. I see that he is sitting beside the Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, my hon. Friend the Member for North Dorset (Simon Hoare). Could they have a conversation about how they might support local councils in reinstating that infrastructure, which will cost many millions of pounds?

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The recent flooding has caused significant disruption to parts of the national rail network. Will the Minister ask the Environment Agency to step up its work with Network Rail to better identify the parts of the network that are vulnerable to flooding, and to put in place the necessary prevention and resilience work?