Flooding: Agricultural Areas

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Baroness Knight of Collingtree

Monday 3rd March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

First, I extend my sympathy to the residents of the noble Baroness’s village and, indeed, the many other people who have suffered as a result of flooding in the last couple of months. I suspect that the specific answer to the question she raises is that unfortunately it depends on the drafting of the specific insurance contract. However, I sympathise strongly and I assure her that we are looking very carefully at the issue of insurance—as she will know—particularly in the context of the Water Bill currently before your Lordships.

[Baroness Knight of Collingtree (Con)]

My Lords, has my noble friend seen reports stating that where there are trees, managing flooding control is very much easier—apparently they aid the removal of water from the surface very effectively—but that the EU encourages our farmers to cut down trees? I do not know whether this is true, but if it is has he any comment to make about it?

[Lord De Mauley]

My noble friend is right that trees planted in the right places can do much to help with flooding before it happens, as it were. I am not aware that the EU encourages people to cut down trees. Specifically, though, through the RDPE, the funding that we get from the common agricultural policy has been used to plant many millions of trees.

Food: Waste

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Baroness Knight of Collingtree

Thursday 17th January 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

No, my Lords. We do not plan to ban all food waste to landfill. However, we are making significant progress and we will continue to make significant progress—building, I may say, in a spirit of friendliness, on progress made by the previous Government.

[Baroness Knight of Collingtree]

My Lords, do these strictures apply to horse meat?

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, that is a bit wide of the Question. However, on the subject of horse meat, consumers should have confidence that food is exactly what it says on the label. There are strict rules requiring products to be labelled accurately.

Flooding: Defence Programme

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Baroness Knight of Collingtree

Thursday 1st November 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, we want to reach an agreement that ensures both the availability and affordability of flood insurance. We are in intense but constructive negotiations with the industry and further announcements will be made in due course after more discussions with it and other relevant parties.

[Baroness Knight of Collingtree]

My Lords, can my noble friend assure the House that in future housebuilding plans, which are now so extensive, will not be carried out on flood plain land?

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, the Government’s policy, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, is to avoid unnecessary building in areas at risk. New homes are not included in the funding formula, otherwise the system would encourage housebuilding on flood plains, so I agree with my noble friend.

Flooding: Insurance

Debate between Lord De Mauley and Baroness Knight of Collingtree

Wednesday 18th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Knight of Collingtree]

My Lords, will my noble friend the Minister bear in mind when dealing with this matter not just the terrible inconvenience of having one’s house flooded but the fact that no mortgage can be obtained if insurance is not available? It therefore becomes almost impossible to sell one’s house if the deal does not go through.

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, that is a very important point. We recognise that there are concerns over the continued ability of existing and prospective mortgage-holders to find affordable insurance. We are working with those involved to get a better understanding of what the impact on the mortgage market would be of increased premiums and how lenders would choose to react.