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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many of the flood defence and prevention schemes that were announced in Budget 2016 construction has begun.

The additional funding announced in the Budget 2016 has enabled the Environment Agency to progress 16 flood risk management schemes. All of these were in the early stages of development requiring funding certainty to progress further. The additional funding has ensured no further contributions are required and enabled the design to commence.

Of these, one scheme, the Calder Valley Flood Risk Reduction Scheme has already started construction. The remaining schemes are in the design stages and the Environment Agency expect construction to start shortly.

The schemes progressed by the additional funding will better protect at least 7,500 homes from flooding when completed.