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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the measures in place to address flooding of the River Thames and to alleviate the damage it causes to so many.

The Environment Agency and other Risk Management Authorities are delivering a programme of flood alleviation measures on the River Thames and its tributaries which are at different stages of consenting and approvals. This includes a major flood alleviation scheme at Oxford, the River Thames Scheme between Egham and Teddington, the Thames Valley Flood Scheme and the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures project, alongside a range of smaller projects. Subject to approvals, these schemes will reduce flood risk and provide wider benefits to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

In addition to this, the Environment Agency operates its existing assets and carries out river maintenance to ensure the Thames and its tributaries flow effectively. During Storm Henk, these existing measures protected approximately 11,000 properties from flooding throughout the Thames Valley. The Environment Agency and partners regularly engage with communities along the Thames to support and advise them on measures they can take to prepare for and improve their resilience to flooding.