Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to provide grants for people whose (a) property and (b) business has been (i) flooded and (ii) significantly impacted by flooding.
The Government recognises that flooding is devastating for those affected. Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) co-ordinates the Government's Flood Recovery Framework (FRF). The FRF, which includes support for businesses and households, and Defra's Property Flood Resilience grant scheme (PFR) can be activated in response to large scale and widespread flooding.
Where flooding results in localised impacts, local authorities should provide support as needed. Affected householders should ask their insurance provider if they are eligible for Build Back Better within their claim, which can provide for flood resilient repairs over and above the cost for like-for-like reinstatement of actual flood damage.
The Government is determined to turbocharge the delivery and repair of flood defences, improve drainage systems and develop natural flood management schemes. That is why the Government set up the Flood Resilience Taskforce to improve coordination of the national and local flood response and strengthen preparedness ahead of the winter flood season. We are investing over £1.25 billion this year to scale up national resilience through building new and improving existing flood defences.