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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the condition of the hundred foot washes of the River Great Ouse.

The Ouse Washes are a crucial component of the long-term adaptive plan for flood infrastructure in the Fens. The 'Fens 2100+’ Programme is a £9.8 million initiative aimed at developing a comprehensive flood resilience investment strategy for the Fens, ensuring long-term value for money and generating both regional and national benefits.

The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for assessing the condition and adequacy of its infrastructure. A Reservoir Engineer conducts annual inspections of the Ouse Washes Flood Storage Reservoir banks. Additionally, EA teams annually assess the remaining banks following winter. EA teams perform regular maintenance to ensure the integrity of these assets. Recently, the EA completed a bank raising project on the Middle Level Barrier Bank, one of the reservoir’s embankments.