Flood-risk Areas: Rural Communities

Question

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.

Question

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.

Question

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?

Question

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?