Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Pow Excerpts

Thursday 10th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) (Con)]

5. How many flood defences the Government plan to build under their six-year flood defence programme.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

12. How many flood defences the Government plan to build under their six-year flood defence programme.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rory Stewart)]

The Government plan to invest in 1,500 schemes over the next six years. This £2.3 billion investment will provide extra protection to an additional 300,000 households.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rory Stewart]

I absolutely give that assurance. In addition to the Boston barrier, which is a £97 million programme, Lincshore is protecting 30 km of the Lincolnshire coast, with £7 million a year over 20 years providing additional protection to 16,000 homes, as well as to the farmland my hon. Friend has mentioned.

[Rebecca Pow]

The future of flood management on the Somerset levels—Taunton Deane covers quite a lot of the Somerset levels—depends largely on the establishment of the new Somerset Rivers Authority. Will the Minister provide an update on progress and give assurances that there will be adequate funding to ensure flood protection and management in the future?

[Rory Stewart]

Somerset has been a serious priority for the Government. More than £1 million has been invested in setting up the Somerset Rivers Authority. We have committed more than £15 million over the next six years to Somerset exactly to achieve the objectives laid out by my hon. Friend.