Asked by: Paul Foster (Labour - South Ribble)
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 (i) create more space for nature and (ii) protect natural wildlife in South Ribble constituency.
Answered by Mary Creagh
Nationally, we are investing in habitat creation, restoration and management through agri-environment schemes. Additionally, funding under the Catchment Sensitive Farming scheme has helped reduce pollution and improve air and water quality. We also committed £60million for the recovery of threatened species.
We have supported Lancashire County Council to prepare their Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which identifies actions to restore nature and enhance biodiversity benefiting both wildlife and local communities. South Ribble supports a diverse range of habitats and species, with protected sites like the Ribble Estuary safeguarding key environments such as saltmarsh and grassland and supporting important bird populations.
Asked by: Paul Foster (Labour - South Ribble)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent on flood prevention works to protect the village of Croston in South Ribble constituency in the last five years; and what funds are allocated for future improvements.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the Secretary of State’s five core priorities.
To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, the Government will invest £2.4 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences.
In South Ribble, the £7.3 million Croston Flood Scheme was completed in 2017 - protecting 438 properties. In the last 5 years (2019 -2024) there has been a further investment of around £500,000 for reconditioning projects, electricity running costs and repair works for the scheme and flood defence in Croston Village. An additional £42,000 is planned for 2024/25.