Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the merits of supporting the River Severn Partnership to help provide (a) flood defence and (b) economic growth in the Shropshire region.

Reducing the likelihood and impact of flooding remains a priority for the Government and we recognise the important work of the River Severn Partnership. In the English Severn and Wye region £170 million will be invested in flood and coastal erosion risk management from 2021-2027.

The government wants every region to thrive. This is why the Government has invested £1.05bn over five years to the West Midlands to transform local transport networks, and there were 11 successful bids in the West Midlands for the £1.7bn first round of the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund. Further, Shropshire and other places across the West Midlands will benefit from the Government’s £5bn national programme, Project Gigabit, to support rollout of gigabit capable broadband.