Oral Answers to Questions

Nigel Adams Excerpts

Thursday 13th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con)]

10. What estimate his Department has made of the number of properties protected from flooding during the recent floods. [R]

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

11. What estimate his Department has made of the number of properties protected from flooding during the recent floods.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dan Rogerson]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right that, thanks to the efforts of the Environment Agency and all the money that has been invested, many homes have been protected, as I set out. It is crucial that we do more, however, which is why we are investing £2.3 billion in the next spending period and we announced £344 million last week for schemes that will go ahead in the next year. It is also why we are working hard on partnership funding and making the case locally to bring forward schemes that would otherwise not have been funded.

[Nigel Adams]

Will the Minister confirm that people whose properties have suffered flooding in the recent exceptional events will have insurance made available to them via Flood Re should their existing insurer decline to cover them owing to that flooding?

[Dan Rogerson]

Until the implementation of Flood Re, which is planned for summer 2015, the insurance industry has voluntarily agreed to abide by its commitments under the 2008 statement of principles, which means that insurers will not decline to cover those who already hold flood insurance with them. In practice, that means that people who are already covered by an insurer will be able to continue to access flood insurance from that insurer until Flood Re comes in.