Debates between Victoria Collins and Abena Oppong-Asare during the 2024 Parliament

Tue 10th Dec 2024
Storm Darragh
Commons Chamber
(Urgent Question)

Storm Darragh

Debate between Victoria Collins and Abena Oppong-Asare
Tuesday 10th December 2024

(4 weeks, 1 day ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts

Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Abena Oppong-Asare Portrait Ms Oppong-Asare
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank the hon. Member for her question, and express sympathy with what her constituents are going through. I am disappointed to hear that constituents face difficulty in connecting to networks. We are trying our best to work with networks on the wider lessons for the future. If she writes to me directly about these matters, we can certainly explore the issue further.

Victoria Collins Portrait Victoria Collins (Harpenden and Berkhamsted) (LD)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

In Harpenden and Berkhamsted, much of the impact of Storm Darragh was wholly preventable, such as Flamstead village being cut off because Trowley Bottom and Chequer Lane were flooded, as well as the flooding on Station Road in Harpenden, and in Puttenham. Next to the Hospice of St Francis is Shootersway, which has repeatedly flooded, and there are worries about ambulance access. What are the Government doing to work with local authorities, and what is the long-term strategy to prevent repeated damage from storms such as Darragh?

Abena Oppong-Asare Portrait Ms Oppong-Asare
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

We are working with local resilience forums, and we are also carrying out a flood review. As I mentioned, a flood taskforce has been set up and is exploring the issues raised by the hon. Lady.