Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of not commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 on surface water flood risk from new housing developments.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
The National Planning Policy Framework requires developments to utilise SuDS where they could have drainage impacts.
Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of uncertainty over the future of Flood Re on mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In July 2026, Flood Re and Government announced a package of reforms to ensure the scheme remains sustainable, fair and focused on its original purpose of supporting those most in need while preparing the market for the future so that Flood Re can achieve its mission by 2039 as planned.
Flood Re will work with insurers and lenders to introduce Flood Performance Certificates, an essential part of this transition by 2039. These certificates will help households better understand their flood risk and ensure that if they take action to make their homes more resilient it is reflected in their insurance premiums as well as in lending decisions.
Flood Re is a reinsurance scheme for insurance companies, rather than a household-facing product. The Government and Flood Re will work closely with insurers as reforms are implemented to ensure clear communication to households.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help improve consumer awareness of whether a property is insured through Flood Re.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In July 2026, Flood Re and Government announced a package of reforms to ensure the scheme remains sustainable, fair and focused on its original purpose of supporting those most in need while preparing the market for the future so that Flood Re can achieve its mission by 2039 as planned.
Flood Re will work with insurers and lenders to introduce Flood Performance Certificates, an essential part of this transition by 2039. These certificates will help households better understand their flood risk and ensure that if they take action to make their homes more resilient it is reflected in their insurance premiums as well as in lending decisions.
Flood Re is a reinsurance scheme for insurance companies, rather than a household-facing product. The Government and Flood Re will work closely with insurers as reforms are implemented to ensure clear communication to households.