Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Natural Flood Management Programme

Thursday 9 May 2024 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Forty projects have been selected to proceed to the development stage of the 25 million natural flood management programme.
  • The Secretary of State offered to arrange a meeting with a relevant team member to discuss funding options for flood prevention in the Great Sutton area.
  • The Environment Agency is increasing the number of inspections of water companies by fourfold to ensure they are not marking their own homework.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the distribution of funds for natural flood management. The programme has allocated £25 million.

Question

What are the locations of successful applicants to the natural flood management programme?

Answer from Steve Barclay

Forty projects have been selected to proceed to the development stage of the £25 million natural flood management programme. They include a broad range of locations, from Alnmouth to St Austell.

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Q2 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is collaborating with residents and authorities to address flooding issues on Chase Way and Kendal Drive. There are multiple funding sources but it's challenging to secure the necessary funds.

Question

Can I meet with the Secretary of State or his team to discuss realistic funding options for addressing flood prevention in the Great Sutton area?

Answer from Steve Barclay

I thank the hon. Member for his engagement, and I will arrange a meeting with the relevant member of the team. The information is on gov.uk. Two projects near his constituency—the Cheshire Wildlife Trust and the Mersey Rivers Trust—are involved in the programme. I welcome his engagement.

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Q3 Mike Penning Con
Environment
Context

The MP is concerned about repeated sewage flooding on the River Ver in his constituency and requests action from the Environmental Agency.

Question

Why isn't the Environment Agency taking serious action against water companies that repeatedly cause sewage flooding, instead of just saying they will work with them?

Answer from Steve Barclay

I agree. That is why we are increasing fourfold the number of inspections, so that water companies are not marking their own homework. It is why we have the plan for water introduced by the former Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk Coastal (Dr Coffey), and significant additional investment. It is why we are taking tougher enforcement action, with the biggest ever criminal prosecution of water firms by the Environment Agency. It is also why we are taking action on things such as bonuses for companies that commit serious wrongdoing.

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