Communities Vulnerable to Flooding

20 Mar

Question

During the session, MPs raised concerns regarding the protection of communities vulnerable to flooding. Key issues revolved around flood defence funding formulas and the role of insurance companies in providing adequate coverage to affected residents.

Outcome

The session concluded with the Minister agreeing to consult on revising the flood defence funding formula to include better provisions for agricultural land. There was also an initiative to address insurance challenges, with emphasis on involving stakeholders through the floods resilience taskforce.

Key Contributions

Patrick HurleyMP

Labour

Questioned the adequacy of the current funding formula for flood defences, particularly its impact on agricultural land.

Jo PlattMP

Labour

Thanked the Minister for visiting flood-affected areas and emphasized ongoing insurance issues faced by flood victims.

Emma HardyMinister

Labour

Acknowledged the defects in the previous funding formula for rural communities.

Original Transcript

Patrick Hurley

Southport

Lab

Question

UIN: 903297

10. What steps he has taken to help protect communities that are vulnerable to flooding.

Jo Platt

Leigh and Atherton

Lab/Co-op

Question

UIN: 903299

12. What steps he has taken to help protect communities that are vulnerable to flooding.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Emma Hardy

Repairing and rebuilding our flood defences is a priority for this Labour Government, and we are investing at a record level to improve flood resilience, better protecting 52,000 properties by this time next year.

Patrick Hurley

The Environment Agency allocates its budgets to carry out work on flood defences on the basis of a funding formula, but that formula does not give sufficient weight to agricultural land. Will the Minister undertake a review of the formula, so that agricultural land gets the flood defences it needs?

Emma Hardy

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important issue. I completely agree that the previous flooding formula did not work for rural communities, which is exactly why we are consulting to change it.

The consultation will be announced shortly, and I encourage him and every Member across the House to get involved in shaping the formula, so we can make sure it delivers the right outcomes for everybody up and down our country.

Jo Platt

First, I thank the Minister for visiting Lilford in Leigh after the devastating new year’s day flooding.

We had a public meeting on Saturday, and three months after those floods, residents are still struggling to get any real progress from their insurance companies, while others face extortionate premiums and excess fees.

What discussions is the Minister having with the insurance industry on improving how they support residents?

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