Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Flooding: Management of Waterways

Thursday 7 December 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is investing 5.2 billion in flood protection between 2021 and 2027
  • Investment in flood asset maintenance has increased by 220 million
  • Previous funding for flood protection was 2.6 billion over six years

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arises from concerns over the adequacy of current measures to manage flood risks along waterways.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to manage waterways to help reduce the risk of flooding?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The Government are investing £5.2 billion in flood protection between 2021 and 2027, building on a previous six-year investment of £2.6 billion, demonstrating increased commitment to flood protection.

Answered
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Q2 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

On October 20, over 500 homes in Chesterfield were flooded, resulting in the tragic death of Mrs Gilbert. Shortly after, it was revealed that the number of homes to be protected from floods by 2027 has been cut by 40%.

Question

I am grateful for your generosity, Madam Deputy Speaker. We are just grateful that at least some Conservative Members have turned up. On 20 October over 500 homes in Chesterfield, like hundreds across the UK, were flooded, leading to the tragic death of Mrs Gilbert on Tapton Terrace. Less than a month later, with the impeccable timing that only this accident-prone Government are capable of, the National Audit Office announced that the Government had cut by 40% the number of homes that will be protected from floods by 2027. Will the Secretary of State at least promise the House that he will never again say to a flood victim that the Government are doing all they can?

Answer from Steve Barclay

Our investment in flood asset maintenance is up by £220 million, and we have increased funding from £2.6 billion over six years to £5.2 billion between 2021 and 2027 for flood protection. The programme has faced pressures due to inflation and covid.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to not misleading future victims about government efforts

How: Pressures On The Programme Through Inflation And Covid

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