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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of the Environment Agency to the regular maintenance of major rivers and water courses; and what assessment they have made of whether any lack of maintenance has contributed to recent flooding.

There are around 238,000 assets registered by the Environment Agency that have a flood or coastal risk management purpose in England, including 76,000 assets owned and maintained directly by the Environment Agency, plus approximately 162,000 assets owned by other parties including Risk Management Authorities and Private owners. Of these, 64,000 are classified by the Environment Agency as high consequence system assets – meaning those which provide the greatest level of protection to people and property. Assets are used to maintain major rivers and water courses.

The Environment Agency regularly inspects over 154,000 assets that have a flood or coastal risk management purpose in England whether owned and maintained by the Environment Agency or other Risk Management Authorities or private individuals.

The Environment Agency is currently inspecting assets impacted by Storms Babet and Ciaran. The Environment Agency estimate 2,300 properties flooded during these recent storms, with 139,000 properties better protected by flood and coastal risk management schemes.

As of October 2023, (prior to the recent Storm Babet and Ciaran), the number of Environment Agency assets that were at or above the required condition in a high consequence Risk Management System was 94.5%. For assets owned or maintained by other parties this was 90%.

A high consequence system is a location where there is a high concentration of properties. Flood risk is reduced by several flood defences working together to protect an area. Where assets are below their required condition this identifies that work is required. This does not mean assets have structurally failed or that performance in a flood is compromised.

The Environment Agency publishes details of planned maintenance activities in the river and coastal maintenance programme, and further details can also be found in the Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report (see attached).