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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the flood and coastal erosion risk management funding policy takes account of the cultural value of areas.

This Government is investing at least a record £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history which is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. Under the new rules the benefits of heritage, natural environment, tourism, and recreation are included as part of project appraisal.

The new funding policy will optimise funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defences and will ensure that deprived communities continue to receive vital investment. We will use government funding to unlock investment from public, private and charitable sources, making every £1 of Government investment go further. We will also invest at least £300 million in natural flood management over ten years – the highest figure to date for the floods programme.