Flooding

Debate between Rachel Reeves and George Eustice

Monday 24th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[George Eustice]

My hon. Friend’s constituency was the first hit, and one of the hardest hit, in this most recent bout of events, and I am of course willing to meet her. I am aware there is a proposed scheme for Tenbury Wells that is awaiting additional partnership finance, but I will obviously talk to her about how we can progress that.

[Rachel Reeves (Leeds West) (Lab)]

More than four years on from the Boxing day floods in 2015, the flood defence scheme for Kirkstall in my constituency is still £23 million short of Government funding. Small businesses cannot take advantage of the Flood Re scheme and as a result many are struggling to get insurance or are paying impossibly high excesses or premiums. Will the Government look again at whether Flood Re can also apply to small businesses?

[George Eustice]

As I said in my statement, we are reviewing Flood Re to check that it is fit for purpose.