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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to help protect communities that are vulnerable to flooding.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in building, maintaining and repairing flood defences, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026. Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26.

An additional £50 million has been allocated to internal drainage boards for flood resilience in rural areas, while £60 million has been distributed to farmers affected by severe weather.

From the investment programme, £108 million is being redirected for the maintenance and repair of flood assets, including £36 million for repairs following recent storms.

The Government inherited an outdated funding formula for allocating money to proposed flood defences. The existing formula slows down the delivery of new flood schemes through a complex application process, and also neglects more innovative approaches to flood management such as nature-based approaches and sustainable drainage

A consultation will be launched in the coming months which will include a review of the existing formula to ensure that the challenges facing businesses and communities are adequately taken into account when delivering flood protection.

Additionally, in September 2024, the Government established the Floods Resilience Taskforce to improve preparedness and coordination across national, regional, and local levels.