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 effectiveness of water infrastructure investment plans in tackling the problem of flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Ofwat is assessing water infrastructure investment plans for 2015-2020 under the 2014 water price review. All water and sewerage companies have a duty derived from recent legislation to place greater emphasis on flood risk planning.

The Water Industry Act 1991 has also been amended to make clear that sewerage undertakers can construct and use Sustainable Drainage Systems to fulfil their statutory duty to effectually drain an area where it is the most economical solution.