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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to introduce a single point of emergency contact during incidents of flooding to improve the co-ordinated response to such incidents; and if she will make a statement.

The Environment Agency Floodline Service has established a 24 hour, 7 day a week helpline, as a single point of contact on flooding. The Floodline number is 0345 988 1188.

In a case of risk to life, however the public should continue to call 999. Floodline has also provided an extended service, providing information on flooding on a 24 hour basis on behalf of local councils.