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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Environment Agency on clarifying its position relating to the ability of landowners to maintain stretches of waterway on their land to help reduce flooding.

The Environment Agency has proactively engaged riparian landowners setting out responsibilities, where there might be exemptions and how they can get help. This has already reached several communities affected in Storm Babet – in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency the letter has been sent to:

1. Framlingham
2. Debenham
3. Needham Market
4. Wickham Market
5. Charsfield
6. Parham
7. Framsden
8. Hacheston
9. Somersham
10. Great Bealings