Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Environment Agency's guidance entitled New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, updated on 28 January 2025, whether he has made a comparative assessment between (a) that data on surface water flooding and (b) flooded properties in 2024-25.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data published on 28 January 2025 was accompanied by online guidance. The new NaFRA uses the best currently available data, both from EA local teams and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) in Bedfordshire and elsewhere. The EA is committed to a rolling programme of further data improvements starting from summer 2025.
LLFAs are the lead organisations responsible for managing surface water flood risk. The EA anticipate that LLFAs will review data on surface water flooding, and properties flooded in 2024-25, as part of any ‘Section 19’ reporting they carry out (a requirement on LLFAs under the Floods and Water Management Act 2010).
The EA does not have direct access to insurance claims information related to flooding, so have not undertaken any assessment of insurance claims information related to the data on surface water flood risk.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular discussions with the EA on a number of matters, including those relating to the new NaFRA. On 25 March 2025 the EA aims to publish the new NaFRA flood zone data on ‘Flood map for planning’ and on data.gov.uk.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy the Environment Agency's guidance entitled New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, updated on 28 January 2025, in the context of flood risk in Bedfordshire.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data published on 28 January 2025 was accompanied by online guidance. The new NaFRA uses the best currently available data, both from EA local teams and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) in Bedfordshire and elsewhere. The EA is committed to a rolling programme of further data improvements starting from summer 2025.
LLFAs are the lead organisations responsible for managing surface water flood risk. The EA anticipate that LLFAs will review data on surface water flooding, and properties flooded in 2024-25, as part of any ‘Section 19’ reporting they carry out (a requirement on LLFAs under the Floods and Water Management Act 2010).
The EA does not have direct access to insurance claims information related to flooding, so have not undertaken any assessment of insurance claims information related to the data on surface water flood risk.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular discussions with the EA on a number of matters, including those relating to the new NaFRA. On 25 March 2025 the EA aims to publish the new NaFRA flood zone data on ‘Flood map for planning’ and on data.gov.uk.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Environment Agency's guidance entitled New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, updated on 28 January 2025, whether he has made a comparative assessment between (a) that data on surface water flooding and (b) insurance claims for flooding in 2024-25.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data published on 28 January 2025 was accompanied by online guidance. The new NaFRA uses the best currently available data, both from EA local teams and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) in Bedfordshire and elsewhere. The EA is committed to a rolling programme of further data improvements starting from summer 2025.
LLFAs are the lead organisations responsible for managing surface water flood risk. The EA anticipate that LLFAs will review data on surface water flooding, and properties flooded in 2024-25, as part of any ‘Section 19’ reporting they carry out (a requirement on LLFAs under the Floods and Water Management Act 2010).
The EA does not have direct access to insurance claims information related to flooding, so have not undertaken any assessment of insurance claims information related to the data on surface water flood risk.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular discussions with the EA on a number of matters, including those relating to the new NaFRA. On 25 March 2025 the EA aims to publish the new NaFRA flood zone data on ‘Flood map for planning’ and on data.gov.uk.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he reviewed the NaFRA2 flood zone data on surface water flooding before it was published.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data published on 28 January 2025 was accompanied by online guidance. The new NaFRA uses the best currently available data, both from EA local teams and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) in Bedfordshire and elsewhere. The EA is committed to a rolling programme of further data improvements starting from summer 2025.
LLFAs are the lead organisations responsible for managing surface water flood risk. The EA anticipate that LLFAs will review data on surface water flooding, and properties flooded in 2024-25, as part of any ‘Section 19’ reporting they carry out (a requirement on LLFAs under the Floods and Water Management Act 2010).
The EA does not have direct access to insurance claims information related to flooding, so have not undertaken any assessment of insurance claims information related to the data on surface water flood risk.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular discussions with the EA on a number of matters, including those relating to the new NaFRA. On 25 March 2025 the EA aims to publish the new NaFRA flood zone data on ‘Flood map for planning’ and on data.gov.uk.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the NaFRA2 flood zone data.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data published on 28 January 2025 was accompanied by online guidance. The new NaFRA uses the best currently available data, both from EA local teams and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) in Bedfordshire and elsewhere. The EA is committed to a rolling programme of further data improvements starting from summer 2025.
LLFAs are the lead organisations responsible for managing surface water flood risk. The EA anticipate that LLFAs will review data on surface water flooding, and properties flooded in 2024-25, as part of any ‘Section 19’ reporting they carry out (a requirement on LLFAs under the Floods and Water Management Act 2010).
The EA does not have direct access to insurance claims information related to flooding, so have not undertaken any assessment of insurance claims information related to the data on surface water flood risk.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular discussions with the EA on a number of matters, including those relating to the new NaFRA. On 25 March 2025 the EA aims to publish the new NaFRA flood zone data on ‘Flood map for planning’ and on data.gov.uk.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 64 of the document entitled GM 701 Asset delivery asset maintenance, published by Standards for Highways in March 2020, if her Department will make an assessment of the effectiveness of Highways England in meeting the standards for drainage and service ducts.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Under its Licence, National Highways must comply with its legal duties and other obligations to ensure the maintenance, resilience, renewal and development of the strategic road network (SRN), and must have due regard to any guidance, standards or specifications relevant to its statutory or other functions. This includes GM701 that the company authors and publishes. It details maintenance requirements to keep the SRN safe and serviceable by undertaking routine cyclical operations, including in areas such as maintaining drainage assets.
As the independent Highways Monitor, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) holds National Highways to account in its effectiveness in operating the SRN, delivery of the road investment strategy and compliance with its Licence. ORR does not audit individual maintenance activities, rather it takes a proportional, systemic, approach focussed on holding the company to account for its drainage performance indicator. This indicator shows the susceptibility of the SRN to flooding and provides insight of drainage condition on the SRN.
ORR publish an annual assessment of National Highways’ performance. Both ORR and National Highways work closely with the department to keep it informed of performance against areas such as maintenance.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of paragraph 59 of the Impact Assessment for the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order (Amendment) 2025, dated 13 January 2025.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Impact Assessment for the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order (Amendment) 2025 considered a range of economic costs and benefits of the proposed changes, of which the indirect impact on the exchequer was one. However, this was considered alongside the estimated benefits, including the estimated revenue generated from the changes, as set out in paragraph 68.
The overall impact of these changes, if made in subsequent Regulations, is uncertain, and a range of impacts has been presented. However, in the central case, the Impact Assessment estimates a positive Net Present Social Value of £203.5 million over the five year period, were fees theoretically to be raised from current levels to the proposed maxima as set out in paragraph 85.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the East West Railway Company Limited consultation document Connecting people, building communities, published in November 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22408 on East West Rail Line: Construction, whether the estimate provided in that Answer is based on (a) the Existing stations option or (b) the Consolidated stations option for Connection Stage 3 on the Marston Vale Line.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The capital cost estimate for East West Rail includes costs for relocating stations on the Marston Vale Line, should this option be chosen. This is subject to the outcome of the consultation and decisions have not yet been on taken on this.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential contribution of Cranfield to his plans to double the size of the economy of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor has recently announced the government’s commitment to unlock growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the high potential sectors within it, as part of the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth.
The Oxford-Cambridge region is home to world leading universities, and globally renowned science and technology firms. But its true potential is being held back and we need to go further to address the key barriers to growth across this region to deliver benefits for the whole country. This could, according to industry experts, boost the UK economy by £78 billion, catalysing the growth of UK science and technology. Any approach to growth should build on the assets already represented in the corridor, such as Cranfield University’s existing aerospace strengths.
As champion for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, Lord Vallance will look across the region, including Cranfield, to identify key opportunities for growth.