Flood Defences 2020-11-26
2020-11-26
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Local authorities face challenges in building adequate flood defences due to resource constraints. The question arises from concerns about insufficient financial support for local projects.
What steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities have the resources to build adequate flood defences? Local authorities need significant funding to address flooding issues, especially with climate change increasing risks and costs.
The Government are currently investing £2.6 billion between 2015 and 2021, approximately £650 million of which will be allocated to local authorities. Between 2021 and 2027, we will invest £5.2 billion in flood and coastal defences, in addition to a £200 million resilience innovation fund.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Maw Green Road in Bexhill and Battle has faced severe flooding, affecting residents who have to use canoes. The local authority's efforts to secure financial aid have been unsuccessful.
Will the Minister agree to meet me to look at its proposals to see what we can do to support it financially so that it can tackle this matter? Maw Green Road has been severely flooded, residents using canoes for evacuation. Local authority applications for funding have been declined.
We all understand the difficulties that flooding can bring and my hon. Friend is right to raise it. I understand that the Environment Agency recently attended a meeting with the Lead Local Flood Authority to address the surface water flooding in Maw Green Road, and that the LLFA is pursuing specific actions to address the situation.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not explicitly commit to meet or provide financial support beyond acknowledging efforts are underway.
We All Understand The Difficulties
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The environmental land management scheme has potential to mitigate flooding, particularly flash flooding. The scheme's progress is of interest due to its role in future farming practices.
How advanced is the ELM scheme, and when will we hear about it? In the future, can we ensure that the payments are enough so that people can farm water as part of their farming practice?
My hon. Friend was right to raise the ELM scheme. Our future farming policy will be centred around support aimed at incentivising sustainable farming practice; creating habitats for nature recovery; and establishing new woodland ecosystem services to help tackle climate change.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific timelines or details on funding adequacy for the scheme's implementation.
We Will Help Farmers To Deliver Environmental Public Goods
Response accuracy