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 is taking to mitigate the costs to (a) local councils and (b) landowners of internal drainage boards; and what steps he is taking to ensure that (i) South West Norfolk and (ii) Norfolk are protected from flooding.

The Government recognises the important role of internal drainage boards (IDBs). We increased the IDB Fund to £91 million. This will reduce future costs and improve assets and water level management across 400,000ha of farmland and benefiting over 91,000 properties. In Norfolk 32 projects have received grants (£10.6 million), 8 of which (£2.32 million) are in South West Norfolk constituency.

The Government also announced £5 million in 2025/26 for those local authorities most impacted by IDB levies. Given local pressures, we are launching research to review IDB costs and funding, including whether any changes are needed to the funding model.

Protecting communities from the dangers of flooding is one of Defra’s top priorities. This government is investing a record £2.65 billion over two years (2024/25 and 2025/26) for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones. Of this £49.6 million is being invested in Norfolk.