Waveney MP Peter Aldous yesterday called on the Government to ensure that the Environment Agency and local authorities have sufficient funding to carry out necessary additional work which will enable local communities to get back on their feet as soon as possible after the floods.

 

This followed a statement made by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Owen Paterson, about flooding in the UK over the Christmas and New Year period.

 

In the Parliamentary debate, Peter Aldous highlighted that Lowestoft was badly affected by the North Sea Storm surge at the beginning of December and acknowledged the good work that the Government has done in improving flood defences in terms of increased funding and promoting innovative ways of carrying out works. As a result of the recent and ongoing floods, a considerable amount of additional work has been created in relation to preparing damaged defences, working up new schemes that had previously been regarded as long-term projects and improving risk management procedures.

 

Peter questioned the Secretary of State as to whether he will be reviewing the funding arrangements for the Environment Agency and local authorities to ensure that they have the necessary resources to carry out this necessary additional work and that local communities can get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

 

The Minister gave his assurances “that this Government will be spending more on flood defences in the course of these four years than any preceding Government, and we have set up a very ambitious £2.3 billion programme going right through to 2021. I very much hope that his constituents, councils and other entities put in bids to participate in these funds.”

 

Peter Aldous commented:

“I have seen at first hand the impact of the floods in Lowestoft and it is important that the Government ensures that local communities are fully supported to help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

 

FULL TEXT:

 

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): Lowestoft in my constituency was badly affected by the North sea storm surge at the beginning of last month. In the past three and a half years the Government have made significant commitments to flood defences in terms of increasing funding and promoting innovative ways of carrying out works. As a result of the recent and ongoing floods, a considerable amount of additional work has been created in relation to preparing damaged defences, working up new schemes that had previously been regarded as long-term projects, and improving risk management procedures. In the light of what has happened in the past four to five weeks, will the Secretary of State be reviewing the funding arrangements for the Environment Agency and local authorities to ensure that they have the necessary resources to carry out this additional work and that local communities can get back on their feet as quickly as possible?

 

Mr Paterson: I am happy to repeat what I said earlier—that this Government will be spending more on flood defences in the course of these four years than any preceding Government, and we have set up a very ambitious £2.3 billion programme going right through to 2021. I very much hope that his constituents, councils and other entities put in bids to participate in these funds.

 

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