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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding for flood protection is planned to be raised through a standard partnership funding framework in each year between 2015-16 and 2020-21.

The Environment Agency expects to attract contributions from other sources of over £600 million, but the exact timing and amount depends on local choices. We are on course to bring in up to £140 million in external funding over the four years to 2015.

Contributions can come from national, local, private or public sources. They supplement our national budget, meaning more can be done to reduce the risks of flooding and coastal erosion across the country.

Partnership funding encourages contributions from those who benefit from reduced risk. Government has introduced a tax deduction for businesses contributing to schemes, encouraging the private sector to contribute to local schemes.