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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department is providing those impacted by flooding following Storm Herminia.

The Environment Agency surged support at strategic, tactical and operational levels and worked with Local Resilience Forums to manage flood impacts in areas affected by Storm Hermina. There were approximately 160 properties flooded and 6000 protected.

The Environment Agency routinely provides flood warning and information and maintains 250 mobile pumps, including 17 ultra-high-volume pumps which can assist with flood recovery across England. There was no activation of the flood recovery framework or Defra led support schemes as a result of flooding caused by Storm Hermina.

We recognise the devastation the storms this winter have caused to those affected. The role of any Government is to protect its citizens which is why, under our Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026.

Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26. This Government inherited flood assets in their poorest condition on record, so we are also prioritising maintenance of existing flood defences, ensuring an additional 14,500 properties will have their expected level of protection maintained or restored.