Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent coastal flooding in Lancashire.

Between April 2015 and March 2021, the Government plans to invest approximately £120 million on coast protection schemes in Lancashire. The Environment Agency is currently working in close partnership with a number of the Lancashire Coast Protection Authorities in delivering this ambitious capital investment programme to better protect 26,000 properties. This includes:

• Anchorsholme Coast Protection Scheme, which was completed in November 2017 at a cost of £27.1 million and will better protect 4,800 properties.
• Rossall Coast Protection Scheme, which is expected to be completed at a cost of £63 million by summer 2018 and will better protect 7,500 properties.
• Morecambe Wave Reflection Wall, which is expected to be completed at a cost of £10.5 million by winter 2018 and will better protect 11,400 properties.
• Fairhaven to Church Scar Coast Protection Scheme, which is expected to be completed at a cost of £19.8 million by spring 2020 and will better protect 2,300 properties.

The Environment Agency, Coast Protection Authorities and third party owners also carry out ongoing routine annual revenue maintenance works for their respective assets.

The Environment Agency also issues flood warnings to vulnerable communities on the coast when weather and tidal conditions have the potential to cause flooding.