← Back to House of Commons Debates
Storm Henk
08 January 2024
Lead MP
Robbie Moore
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EconomyTaxationEmploymentAgriculture & Rural AffairsLocal Government
Other Contributors: 32
At a Glance
Robbie Moore raised concerns about storm henk 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
EconomyTaxationEmploymentAgriculture & Rural AffairsLocal Government
Government Statement
Storm Henk has led to widespread flooding across the UK, particularly in areas like Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire. Heavy rainfall resulted in record levels for rivers such as the Trent, Thames, Severn and Avon. The Government has invested over £6 billion since 2010 to protect 600,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion; currently, more than 75,000 properties have been protected but over 2,000 properties were flooded. Over the weekend, the Environment Agency deployed staff and pumps and put up defences while also issuing flood warnings to communities. Immediate relief measures include £500 per household and business rate relief for at least three months. Farmers can apply for grants of up to £25,000 through the farming recovery fund. The Government is committed to spending a record £5.2 billion on new flood defence schemes in the current six-year period, doubling the previous spend.
Duncan Scannel
Lab
Plymouth, Moor View
Question
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.
Minister reply
The minister responds by confirming that small and medium-sized businesses, including farmers, are eligible for up to £2,500 of support from the business recovery grant to return to normal operations. Additionally, property owners can apply for up to £5,000 under the flood resilience repair grant scheme to make their homes more resilient against future flooding.
Rehman Chishti
Con
Gillingham East
Question
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?
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the visit to a primary school in Heighington and discusses next steps with local authorities, Environment Agency, and other partners to ensure the school reopens swiftly and children return to classrooms as soon as possible.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry
Lib Dem
East Devon
Question
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.
Minister reply
The minister confirms that the UK-wide Flood Re scheme is continuing and will provide reinsurance for households with high flood risks, supporting more than 265,000 household policies last year.
Steve Reed
Lab Co-op
Streatham and Croydon North
Question
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.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that cross-Government meetings were held regularly to manage the situation and that since 2010 £6 billion has been invested in flood defences. He announced a doubling of investment to £5.2 billion for future periods, and mentioned ongoing work on natural flood management schemes.
Question
The MP thanked the Minister for prompt action and asked whether Shropshire would be eligible for the flood recovery framework.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that Environment Agency representatives were contacted regularly, and he was ready to expand the flood recovery fund if necessary.
Question
The MP highlighted the importance of delivering schemes not just announcing funding sums. He asked about funding levels for future flooding events.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the need for proactive measures and mentioned ongoing work with devolved Administrations to ensure financial support is available.
Question
The MP congratulated the minister on his statement and asked about funding for frequently flooded communities, particularly in Worcester.
Minister reply
The Minister expressed willingness to continue conversations with the Environment Agency to best help frequently flooded households.
Question
The MP criticised the Government's lack of action and called for ambitious climate policies rather than just cleaning up after events.
Minister reply
The Minister highlighted significant reductions in emissions since 2010, setting a net zero target in law, and doubling flood-resilience funding to protect frequently flooded communities.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Question
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.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of addressing long-term mental health impacts alongside physical ones, commits to delivering recommendations from the 'Rural Mental Health' report.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Question
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.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the severity of the tornado incident, commits to working with devolved Administrations and local authorities to address both frequent and one-off extreme weather incidents.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
Complains about Environment Agency's prioritisation of wildlife preservation over clearing dykes, requests action on compensation for flood plains.
Minister reply
Acknowledges concerns and commits to exploring options such as dredging and vegetation removal in EA assets to improve water flow efficiency.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
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.
Minister reply
Commits to working with NFU and other agencies to secure action against flooding threats, announces £25,000 grants for uninsurable damage through farming recovery fund.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
Question
Reports severe flooding in Rutland and nearby areas. Asks if Rutland County Council has submitted data to Environment Agency for support.
Minister reply
Commits to reviewing all flooded areas over and above the announced eight county council areas to ensure timely provision of funds.
Keir Mather
Lab
Selby
Question
Describes flooding in his constituency and asks if the Minister will consider implementing a flood resilience taskforce.
Minister reply
Reassures that Government is already working closely with Environment Agency, local authorities, and flood resilience forums to address pre-emptive measures.
Question
Asks about potential benefits of river dredging in Tewkesbury due to flooding issues at confluence of two main rivers.
Minister reply
Commits to considering all options including dredging and vegetation removal from EA assets, increases flood resilience budget to £5.2 billion.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
North Shropshire
Question
Asks about discussions on managing the upper Severn catchment, funding for clearing culverts and drains, and eligibility criteria for frequently flooded allowance.
Minister reply
Commits to continuing discussions with Environment Agency colleagues, explores wider plans to protect land upstream and downstream of River Seven, and ensures protection for as many homes and businesses as possible.
Mark Garnier
Con
Wyre Forest
Question
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?
Minister reply
Welcomes a conversation with the MP and works with his local authority, Environment Agency, and neighbouring colleagues to find solutions that better reassure constituents.
Sarah Edwards
Lab
Tamworth
Question
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?
Minister reply
The Government have doubled funding from £2.6 billion to £5.2 billion from 2021 to 2027 for flood resilience and are actively working with local authorities on the situation.
Question
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?
Minister reply
Water companies are minimising impacts on customers and the environment; storm overflow monitoring is at 100% to better target resources where they're most needed.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
Question
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?
Minister reply
Communities work closely with local authorities and through flood resilience forums; the Government swiftly communicate and make rapid decisions for necessary support.
Alberto Costa
Con
South Leicestershire
Question
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?
Minister reply
Will write to the MP to explain what government support is available; will meet him to discuss further.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
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?
Minister reply
Regular conversations occur within UK Government and knowledge or learning is shared with devolved Administrations.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Question
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?
Minister reply
Commends the work of IDBs; will review what needs to be done in terms of dredging and removing vegetation from Environment Agency assets.
Layla Moran
Lib Dem
Oxford West and Abingdon
Question
Why has the Environment Agency’s own plan for flood alleviation in Abingdon been axed? Would the Minister consider meeting to discuss this?
Minister reply
Environment Agency colleagues are working hard; Oxford flood alleviation scheme is in place but happy to meet MP to discuss further action.
Harriett Baldwin
Con
West Worcestershire
Question
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?
Minister reply
Happy to meet MP to work at speed to ensure households and businesses are protected from implications of flooding.
Question
How can red tape be removed to prevent further home destruction in Pakefield, East Anglian coast?
Minister reply
Always open to removing red tape where necessary; happy to have a detailed conversation with MP and his colleagues.
Richard Graham
Con
Gloucester
Question
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?
Minister reply
First, I thank my hon. Friend for inviting me to Gloucester this morning. It was an excellent visit to meet his residents and speak with those who have experienced flooding on Alney Island. It was clear that the investment that this Government put in place and the flood improvement measures put in place in 2006 have worked up until now, but we know the implications when the River Severn catchment is as saturated as it has been. I am willing to meet not only him but the other 38 colleagues who form the caucus, to put a strategic plan in place for the whole River Severn catchment.
Central Ayrshire
Question
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?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for that question, because I want to make it absolutely clear that no options should be off the table. It is important that we quite rightly have nature-based solutions upstream, but also that where Environment Agency assets need dredging, we review that and consider what more could be done in that area, while ensuring that we are working with our internal drainage boards, which are doing a fantastic job.
Robert Buckland
Con
South Swindon
Question
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.
Minister reply
Absolutely, and I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for his question. Regardless of the size of a local authority, what matters is that we protect our constituents from flooding. I am more than happy to meet him and his neighbouring colleagues to ensure that, as a Government, we deliver on protecting as many homes and businesses as possible.
Ben Bradley
Con
Huntingdon
Question
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?
Minister reply
It was a very worthwhile visit to Nottinghamshire and Nottingham at the weekend and at the end of last week to meet my hon. Friend’s councillor team, who have been incredibly proactive in delivering for many communities across Nottinghamshire. It was important for me to visit Radcliffe on Trent, where I saw park homes that had been flooded and, unfortunately, residents evacuated from their properties. I am of course willing to work with colleagues—such as the Minister for local government, my hon. Friend in his role as leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, and others—to ensure that we are delivering as best we can for properties impacted by flooding.
Iain Stewart
Con
Milton
Question
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?
Minister reply
I will absolutely do that. It is incredibly important that people are able to get around as efficiently as they wish to. I am well aware that many of our assets owned and managed by Network Rail have been impacted by not only Storm Henk, but Storm Babet. I will ask the Environment Agency, as will departmental colleagues, to ensure that our assets are best protected. I will also pick that up with colleagues in the Department for Transport.
Shadow Comment
Steve Reed
Shadow Comment
The shadow minister highlights that about 2,000 properties are flooded despite Government investments. He criticises the lack of a Cobra meeting to address the crisis and points out budget underspends by the Environment Agency. Labour proposes a Cobra-style flood resilience taskforce to coordinate flood preparation between central government and local authorities before peak flooding seasons. The shadow minister questions why communities at risk from flooding do not have detailed maps, how unspent funding for flood defences is managed, when upgrades will be made for poor-rated defences, and what conversations are taking place with insurers to ensure full insurance coverage.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.