Flood-risk Areas Rural Communities 2023-10-19
2023-10-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Storm overflows and flooding are significant issues for rural communities. The government's flood investment programme is aimed at addressing these risks.
What steps her Department is taking to protect rural communities in flood-risk areas. 40% of schemes and 45% of investments under the Government's £5.2 billion six-year flood investment programme benefit rural communities, which have benefited from the frequently flooded fund, natural flood management fund, and flood and coastal innovation programmes.
The Government's six-year £5.2 billion flood investment programme benefits both urban and rural communities. Approximately 40% of schemes and 45% of investments are being directed at rural communities, which have benefited from our frequently flooded fund, our natural flood management fund and our flood and coastal innovation programmes.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Minister visited Shrewsbury and heard from the River Severn Partnership, which aims to find a holistic solution rather than just creating flood barriers.
When can give us more information and an update on the resources being afforded to the partnership to support landowners and others who can be part of that solution? The Minister visited Shrewsbury multiple times. There are funds available: the £25 million for natural flood management schemes may be of interest to farmers, and the environmental land management schemes include provisions for temporary storage capacity on farms.
I thank my hon. Friend for the great work that he does with the partnership. Both the Secretary of State and I have visited his constituency. There are funds available: the £25 million for natural flood management schemes may be of interest to farmers, and the environmental land management schemes include provisions for temporary storage capacity on farms.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Storm overflows are expected in the autumn, with residents unsure about whom to contact during a flooding event.
In the autumn, storm overflows are inevitable, and my constituents are holding their breath as they wonder whether their homes will be flooded once again. I understand from speaking to residents that it is very unclear whom they should call when that occurs, so will the Minister look again at setting up a national flood line that can be called at any time, and ensure that it is connected to a local flood centre that will be accountable for a response from local services?
I have visited my hon. Friend's constituency, and I know that she has done a great deal of work on the issue of flooding. The Environment Agency works in partnership with the Met Office to provide an online “checking for flooding” service, which is operating today to deal with Storm Babet. Members of the public can check the flood risk, find advice and guidance on how to prepare for flooding, and sign up for warnings on the gov.uk site.
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Assessment & feedback
Creation of a national flood line
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The National Infrastructure Council's report states that an extra 190,000 homes are at risk of flooding due to the Government's failure to maintain existing flood defence assets.
I listened carefully to the Minister's response, and I noted that she did not mention the National Infrastructure Council's report, commissioned by the Government a year ago, which stated that an extra 190,000 homes were at risk of flooding—not because of climate change, but because of the Government's failure to maintain existing flood defence assets. When the Government cannot even get the basics right, how can anyone possibly trust them to have the answers to the ever-increasing flood risk that our country faces?
That is exactly the Environment Agency's duty, and it works very hard on the asset management side of our flood assets, which are a very large proportion of our £5.2 billion fund.
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Assessment & feedback
Failure to maintain existing flood defence assets as mentioned in the report
Response accuracy