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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 36866 on Internal Drainage Boards: Cambridgeshire, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the pumping infrastructure at St Germans Pumping Station in King's Lynn.

St. Germans Pumping Station was completed in 2011 and is the largest pumping station in Britain. The pumping station drains an area of 700km² which is mostly grade 1 agricultural land and encompasses 22,500 houses and 3,500 business. The fully automated pumping station plays a key part in the network of 17,000 Environment Agency and IDB assets which manage water levels to make it possible to live and work within the catchment. The asset is owned and operated by the Middle Level Commissioners who lead on identifying future capital investment needs. IDBs are eligible to bid for funding from the flood investment programme.

We expect all those responsible for flood risk management assets, including IDBs and other risk management authorities to invest in ongoing maintenance and ensure timely repairs where necessary.