Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Craig Tracey and Steve Barclay

Thursday 14th March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Craig Tracey (North Warwickshire) (Con)]

1. What steps his Department is taking to help protect rural communities in flood-risk areas.

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Barclay)]

Around 45% of the Government’s £5.2 billion investment in flood protection is targeted at rural communities, and the Minister for Water is allocating £75 million of funding specifically to internal drainage boards, which, again, serve many rural constituencies.

[Craig Tracey]

I thank the Secretary of State for his answer. In recent months, parts of North Warwickshire and Bedworth, including Austrey, Polesworth and the Woodlands, have seen significant and unprecedented flooding, which has caused real damage to houses and businesses and upheaval for local residents. Will the Secretary of State set out what other steps can be taken to prevent this from happening and to stop these situations becoming the norm?

[Steve Barclay]

My hon. Friend has been a real constituency champion in highlighting some of the flooding issues that have occurred in North Warwickshire and Bedworth. Of the Environment Agency investment over six years, £24 million is going specifically into protecting 800 properties, and I know we will have further discussions on the work that he is doing locally to tackle flooding.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Craig Tracey and Steve Barclay

Tuesday 26th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Craig Tracey (North Warwickshire) (Con)]

What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support local authorities during the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Steve Barclay)]

The Government have committed more than £10 billion to support local authorities in dealing with covid in this financial year and the next, including an unprecedented guarantee to compensate them for their income losses as a result of the pandemic.

[Craig Tracey [V]]

I welcome the considerable support that has already been given to local councils during the pandemic. However, I recently had discussions with leaders of North Warwickshire Borough Council, which is an incredibly well-run council, and they are still finding a shortfall of about half a million pounds against an annual budget of £10 million, due to a mix of lost revenue and providing additional services to residents, such as extra home waste collection services. What more can be done to ensure that we give councils the full backing they need to continue providing services?

[Steve Barclay]

North Warwickshire has received more than £1 million to meet its expenditure pressures this year, exceeding the expenditure pressures that it has reported to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. I urge my hon. Friend to express any further concerns to MHCLG at the earliest opportunity. As he recognises, a comprehensive package of support has already been provided, and that support continues.