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Storm Bert
25 November 2024
Lead MP
Steve Reed
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
HousingEmploymentNorthern Ireland
Other Contributors: 44
At a Glance
Steve Reed raised concerns about storm bert in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister for Flood Defence, Steve Reed, provided an update to the House on the impacts of Storm Bert. He mentioned that heavy rain, high winds, and snow caused flooding across England over the weekend, with approximately 107 properties flooded due to river and surface water flooding in England. The flooding has affected communities such as Northamptonshire's Billing Aquadrome and Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire. Environment Agency staff are continuing their efforts and working closely with local responders to mitigate further impacts. As of 4 pm on the day of the statement, there was one severe flood warning and 120 flood warnings across England. The Minister emphasised ongoing support for devolved authorities in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and thanked emergency services and local responders for their efforts.
The Government has invested £2.4 billion over two years to build and maintain flood defences due to the previous government's under-investment, which had left 3,000 key flood defences below acceptable standards. The Minister also highlighted a new floods resilience taskforce that met in September to prepare for autumn and winter.
The Government has provided £60 million in the recent Budget to help farmers affected by earlier flooding this year, with an additional £50 million to be distributed to internal drainage boards. A consultation will launch in the New Year on reviewing the existing flood funding formula.
Victoria Atkins
Con
Louth and Horncastle
Question
Atkins questioned the Secretary of State on pre-storm preparations, including discussions with Environment Agency and Met Office. She also inquired into flood resilience taskforce's preparations for autumn and winter.
Minister reply
Reed responded by outlining the Government’s commitment to improving flood defences through significant investment and setting up a new floods resilience taskforce. He emphasised that they are working closely with emergency services and local responders to mitigate the impact of flooding.
Chris Loder
Con
West Worcestershire
Question
Loder sought confirmation on the distribution of funding for frequently flooded allowance and natural flood management fund. He also inquired about support for internal drainage boards.
Minister reply
Reed confirmed that the Government will continue to provide funds for farmers affected by flooding, including the £50 million for internal drainage boards. However, he noted that there was a reduction from the previously promised £75 million due to budget constraints.
Peter Bone
Con
Wellingborough
Question
Bone asked about the provision of decent temporary accommodation and insurance claims process for those affected by flooding.
Minister reply
Reed stated that the Government is committed to providing support including temporary accommodation and expediting the insurance claims process to ensure residents can return home as quickly as possible.
Victoria Atkins
Con
Louth and Horncastle
Question
The MP thanked the Secretary of State for advance sight of his statement, expressing condolences to those impacted by Storm Bert. She questioned the Government’s preparations before the storm and asked about specific actions taken in response to warnings from the Met Office. Victoria also challenged the allocation of £2.4 billion, questioning if it is part of or additional to the previous government's commitment of £5.2 billion.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State thanked the MP for her questions and acknowledged the challenges inherited from the previous government. He confirmed that funding has increased over two years compared to the current year under the previous government, allocating £2.4 billion.
Toby Perkins
Lab
Chesterfield
Question
The MP expressed empathy for the challenges faced and emphasised the urgent need for improvements in flood defences due to climate change pressures. He asked how communities such as his can engage with the work being done by the Government and Environment Agency to bridge funding gaps.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the importance of community engagement and mentioned a review of the flood funding formula that includes nature-based flood management solutions.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
Expressing gratitude for Members' work, the MP questioned whether the Secretary of State might seek to reverse real-term reductions in DEFRA's budget. He also raised concerns about storm overflows discharging untreated sewage into lakes and rivers, as well as cuts to farmers’ basic payment scheme.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the difficult financial inheritance but highlighted the allocation of £2.4 billion for flooding. He mentioned Sir Jon Cunliffe's review on governance and regulation failures leading to storm overflows discharging sewage, and confirmed that every outflow will be monitored.
Nick Smith
Lab
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Question
Storm Bert has been devastating for my constituents, with significant rainfall leading to flooding. Despite the £25 million in Budget for Welsh coalfield tip maintenance and safety measures, will the Secretary of State look into further support for coal tips?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister contacted the First Minister of Wales offering available support needed by the Welsh Government. The offer stands open to provide more assistance if required.
Llinos Medi
PC
Ynys Môn
Question
Concerning a coal tip landslip in Cwmtillery and the legacy of an industry that extracted from Wales, will the Secretary of State commit to providing full funding required?
Minister reply
The Government has offered funding for coal tips problems described. The Prime Minister’s offer stands ready to provide more support to the Welsh Government if needed.
Calder Valley
Question
Following severe flood warnings in Calder Valley, will the Minister meet me to discuss upcoming plans and get action from the Environment Agency?
Minister reply
The increase in funding over the next two years supports areas affected by flooding. The Minister for Water and Flooding is willing to meet him to discuss constituency concerns.
Simon Hoare
Con
North Dorset
Question
Considering river capacity loss, will the Secretary of State convince the Environment Agency to increase river capacity through a managed programme of dredging?
Minister reply
The formula review with the Environment Agency looks at actions to protect communities in various parts of the country.
Barry Gardiner
Lab
Brent West
Question
Will the Secretary of State ensure that key recommendations from the Climate Change Committee’s assessment of NAP3 are implemented, leading to an urgent refresh of NAP3?
Minister reply
The Government is reviewing formula and approach to managing flooding, taking seriously reports on climate change risks.
David Chadwick
Lib Dem
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Question
Can the Secretary of State explain what will be done to make coal tips safe, particularly in live monitoring and early warning systems?
Minister reply
A programme through the Welsh Government improves maintenance of coal tips with allocated funding.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
Could the Secretary of State review Flood Re’s remit to cover businesses and properties built after 2009?
Minister reply
A roundtable with insurance providers, including Flood Re, chaired by the Minister for water, looks at providing more support.
Harriett Baldwin
Con
West Worcestershire
Question
With a well-advanced flood defence design for Tenbury Wells and previous funding allocations, can the Secretary of State secure completion with £2.4 billion over two years?
Minister reply
The Environment Agency allocates funding in usual ways through regional committees engaging local stakeholders.
Catherine Fookes
Lab
Monmouthshire
Question
Will the Secretary of State encourage Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency to work together for cross-border river flooding problems?
Minister reply
Both agencies will ensure effective cooperation in addressing same-river issues.
Seamus Logan
SNP
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Question
The MP thanks the Secretary of State for his statement on Storm Bert and asks if additional support will be given to Scotland as well, considering past unnamed storms in the region.
Minister reply
The Government stands ready to support and help devolved authorities whenever they face such circumstances.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Question
The MP asks for an update on flood defence schemes and nature-based management in the Thames valley region, particularly around Reading.
Minister reply
The Government will review the formula to look at nature-based flood management. The EA has been asked to contact the hon. Member with updates regarding his constituency.
John Glen
Con
Salisbury
Question
The MP acknowledges the work of Philip Duffy and the Environment Agency, and suggests that attention should be given to how smaller schemes can also move forward at parish level.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State echoes the right hon. Gentleman’s comments on Philip Duffy and agrees to discuss the funding approach with EA for small schemes.
Luke Charters
Lab
York Outer
Question
The MP asks if Yorkshire Water should urgently fix a water pump that was removed three years ago from Hartrigg Oaks, as it alleviates flooding during storms.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State agrees to look into the issue and offers a meeting with the Minister for water to discuss further support.
Ian Roome
Lib Dem
North Devon
Question
The MP thanks firefighters from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, who have attended over 420 water incidents during Storm Bert. He suggests that community resilience for severe weather should be a statutory duty with Government funding.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State acknowledges the hon. Gentleman's comments and agrees to look at whether further duties are required.
Claire Hughes
Lab
Bangor Aberconwy
Question
The MP thanks agencies for their hard work over the weekend, expresses condolences, and asks about further contact with the Welsh Government.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State echoes the condolences and agrees to stay in regular contact with the Welsh authorities.
John Lamont
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Question
The MP asks if the Government has made an assessment on crop yields as a direct result of Storm Bert.
Minister reply
Appropriate assessments will be made once we have had time to consider the situation. The Secretary of State also mentions the allocation of £60 million through the farm recovery fund.
Zarah Sultana
Lab
Coventry South
Question
The MP asks for a statutory duty for fire and rescue authorities to respond to flooding incidents in England, as well as the implementation of a national structure to inform policy and standards in the fire and rescue service.
Minister reply
Officials will review whether it remains appropriate. The Minister for water is happy to invite the FBU to participate in the floods resilience taskforce.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
Question
The MP asks if incentivising farmers and landowners to establish nature-based flood solutions on their land is necessary due to increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State agrees with the hon. Lady’s points, mentioning that actions around natural flood management are now available through environmental land management schemes.
Cardiff West
Question
The MP thanks for the first-time funding for coal tips and asks to speak with colleagues in DSIT about reviewing Met Office's response during Storm Bert.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State encourages people to sign up on relevant websites for warnings and alerts, and will indeed be speaking to colleagues in DSIT regarding the concerns raised.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Question
Inquires about the funding model for rural flood recovery, highlighting difficulties in Witherley and asks for a clear process for agencies to be accountable.
Minister reply
Commends the MP's work, mentions the floods resilience taskforce aiming to improve coordination among agencies and invites the taskforce to look into local efforts.
Shaun Davies
Lab
Telford
Question
Requests for a plan and resources from the Environment Agency to frequently flooded areas like Ironbridge Gorge, inviting the Minister to visit.
Minister reply
Invites himself to visit Ironbridge Gorge, mentions ongoing review of flood funding formula and encourages involvement in the Environment Agency's committee process.
Ellie Chowns
Green
North Herefordshire
Question
Asks for reconsideration of when the flood recovery framework is initiated, suggesting local authority control over triggering it.
Minister reply
Offers sympathy and acknowledges need to improve coordination among agencies through review of flooding formula.
Jacob Collier
Lab
Burton and Uttoxeter
Question
Requests work with county councils and other agencies to maintain rivers and drains to prevent recurring devastation.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the persistent problem and mentions review of formula, along with taskforce efforts to improve coordination on the ground.
Layla Moran
Lib Dem
Oxford West and Abingdon
Question
Highlights the frustration faced by residents due to delays in support from Environment Agency.
Minister reply
Acknowledges staff safety concerns but offers to raise common sense application of resources with agency chief executive.
Derby North
Question
Asks for statutory footing for water rescue performed by emergency services and update on Derby’s flood defence work.
Minister reply
Promises to engage with Home Office regarding potential duty for fire service response and commits to keep the MP updated.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Question
Asks for commitment to proper flood mitigation measures during construction projects like HS2.
Minister reply
Acknowledges importance of dredging and other means of mitigating risks, commits to inter-departmental conversations.
Chris Curtis
Lab
Milton Keynes North
Question
Praises volunteers and firefighters for their work in Newport Pagnell and asks about future safeguarding measures.
Minister reply
Commends volunteers and emergency services, mentions review of funding formula to improve resilience against flooding.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Question
I note from the Secretary of State’s statement that the floods resilience taskforce is designed to ensure better co-ordination between central Government and frontline agencies. Can he advise whether any of those agencies, local authorities or, indeed, the devolved Administrations have requested military assistance through the MACA process? If they have, is that being considered? Will he consider including the Ministry of Defence in his floods resilience taskforce?
Minister reply
Yes, the devolved Administrations were represented on the floods resilience taskforce. We want to co-ordinate better with them and to ensure that they are co-ordinating with their own agencies and the frontline staff who are charged with protecting communities from the devastating impacts of flooding.
Mike Reader
Lab
Northampton South
Question
As the House has heard today, a major incident has been declared in Northampton: there is a risk to life in my constituency and that of my constituency neighbour. Over 1,000 people have been evacuated from the Billing aquadrome, and we have seen hundreds of workers from the council, the EA, Anglian Water and the emergency services, and volunteers and residents’ groups, working around the clock to make sure that my neighbours are kept safe. Does the Secretary of State agree that the collaboration I am seeing in Northampton demonstrates the importance of the floods resilience taskforce that he has announced?
Minister reply
I had the pleasure of visiting the aquadrome, and I am very sad indeed to hear that it has been flooded yet again. My hon. Friend is right to point to the fact that it is not just about increasing funding, important though that is; it is also about getting the agencies on the ground to co-ordinate better at national, regional and very local levels.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
We have a flood alert in Runnymede and Weybridge at the moment, but it takes a few days for the water to make its way down to us, so we do not know the full impact of Storm Bert. We hope that there will not be a repeat of what happened with Storm Henk earlier this year, when constituents were passed from pillar to post due to the myriad statutory responders during a flood emergency. What will the floods resilience taskforce do to fix that?
Minister reply
The role of the floods resilience taskforce is to ensure not just that there is better co-ordination at national level and between national and local agencies, but that co-ordination happens far better at the local level in the way that he is describing and that there is much better communication with residents, so that they know who to contact, and can do so in a much simpler way, to get the support and help that they need both when floods are coming and as areas recover from the impacts of flooding.
Lisa Smart
Lib Dem
Hazel Grove
Question
One of the ways in which my Hazel Grove constituents have been impacted by Storm Bert is as passengers facing severe delays and cancellations on our rail network, particularly the west coast main line. Will the Secretary of State please update the House on the conversations that he has had with colleagues in the Department for Transport on how to minimise the impact?
Minister reply
We are in close contact with colleagues in the Department for Transport, and safety must be the priority for both passengers and people who work as part of the crews on the trains or on the ground. The railway lines will be opened as soon as it is safe to do so.
Ben Obese-Jecty
Con
Huntingdon
Question
The flooding Minister, the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice, recently confirmed that the Government’s new floods resilience taskforce brings together a range of partners. However, following flooding in Brampton and St Ives that was caused by the high level of the River Great Ouse last month, Cambridgeshire county council informed me that its role as lead local flood authority was only a supporting one, and residents have been understandably frustrated by the lack of clarity about who owns what. Can the Secretary of State offer some clarity on which agency leads the multi-agency response during a flooding event?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that important point. Part of the role of the floods resilience taskforce will be to ensure that there is clarity on the ground, area by area, as to who are the lead responders and how co-ordination is happening, in a way that will provide the maximum benefit to people who are at risk of being affected by flooding.
Steve Darling
Lib Dem
Torbay
Question
I hope that the Secretary of State will join me in thanking workers at Torbay council, who have stepped up to help out residents across my constituency during Storm Bert. I highlight to colleagues the fact that we are haunted by deep cuts to the flood defence budget under the previous Government. Will the Secretary of State reflect on a piece of critical infrastructure: our Dawlish rail line? Phase 5 of the Dawlish rail resilience programme remains up on the shelf and has not been funded yet. Will he give assurances that it will be funded?
Minister reply
I share the hon. Gentleman’s thanks to those who have been involved in protecting people from the impact of flooding. I can write to him on his specific question about the Dawlish railway.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
North Shropshire
Question
I remind Members that I am chair of the all-party parliamentary group on flooding and flooded communities. Large areas of North Shropshire are often under water, either from river flooding or from prolonged rainfall. This weekend has been no exception, with villagers cut off for long periods of time and vast swathes of farmland flooded. This year, there are farmers who have been unable to plant crops in the current harvest, which has just been collected, and who will not be able to do so next year—they are in a desperate state. When the Secretary of State reviews the flooding formula and the funding, will he consider how farmers will be compensated for storing vast quantities of water upstream?
Minister reply
We can take that into account when we look at the flooding formula, but I am sure the hon. Lady will welcome, as I do, the additional £60 million in the Budget for farmers who have been affected by the severe levels of flooding experienced earlier in the year.
Joshua Reynolds
Lib Dem
Maidenhead
Question
The advice from Great Western Railway this morning was not to travel. Following the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove, how many meetings has the Secretary of State had with the Transport Secretary about the resilience of Great Western Railway?
Minister reply
It is always wise to follow the advice that is given for people’s safety. We are in regular contact with colleagues in the Department for Transport and other parts of Government to make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep people safe.
Charlie Maynard
Lib Dem
Witney
Question
My constituency of Witney has the Windrush, the Evenlode and the Thames, all of which have really impacted constituents today. We have just lost out on some FiPL—farming in protected landscapes—funding to produce modelling of the Windrush, which is upstream of Witney, our key market town in the constituency. That means that we are unable to forecast how we can lower and slow the flood crest through Witney, which would make it safer. Will the Secretary of State please look into providing better funding or enlarging the funding for such modelling?
Minister reply
I recognise the hon. Gentleman’s point. We will make announcements on FiPL early in the new year.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Everybody knows that when I am called, it is all over—almost. [Laughter.] I thank the Secretary of State for bringing forward a very positive action plan and strategy. Will the Secretary of State outline what discussions have taken place with counterparts in the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure that the Assembly and local communities have the ability to quickly regroup and get a handle on the devastating flooding that has taken place throughout the United Kingdom? I also need to ask him a question that I wish I had the answer to. One of the big questions is about alternative accommodation for those who have been flooded out. Has he been able to give any attention to that question?
Minister reply
They say it’s not over till the fat lady sings, but I am not sure that they had the hon. Gentleman in mind when that particular phrase was coined. I am in regular contact with the devolved authorities, including on flooding. They sit on the floods resilience taskforce and it is important that there is co-ordination across all parts of Government across the UK to ensure that we can provide appropriate support for people in precisely the circumstances that he describes when flooding hits.
Shadow Comment
Victoria Atkins
Shadow Comment
The Shadow Minister, Victoria Atkins, acknowledged Storm Bert's impacts across the UK and thanked emergency services for their efforts. She raised concerns about practical support for those affected by flooding, including temporary accommodation and insurance claims processes. She questioned the government’s focus on pre-storm preparations, asking for details of discussions with the Environment Agency and Met Office before Storm Bert hit.
Atkins inquired into the specific preparations arising from the floods resilience taskforce meeting and requested confirmation that the £2.4 billion mentioned by the Minister is part of the previously committed £5.2 billion. She also asked about the continuation of funds such as the frequently flooded allowance, natural flood management fund, and independent drainage board funding.
Atkins expressed concern over support for farmers affected by this winter's bad weather and sought reassurance that adverse weather conditions will be considered as mitigations for family farm tax.
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