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1278429

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the effectiveness of existing flood warning systems, and (2) the level of investment in flood defences.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL12307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Over 1.52 million properties in England are signed up to the Environment Agency's (EA) free flood warning service, which sends a message directly by voice message, text or email when a flood warning is issued.</p><p> </p><p>Our latest assessment from September 2020 showed that the EA’s Flood Warning Service is available to 84% of those who live in areas of flood risk (target 83%).</p><p> </p><p>The take up is 82% by those who are offered the service (target 80%). The EA continues to work on improving performance against measures on flood warning quality (timeliness and accuracy, message quality).</p><p> </p><p>There are millions of visits every year to the online Flood Information Service. This provides the public with an opportunity to give feedback on the service provided. From July to December 2020, 61% said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied.</p><p> </p><p>Direct user feedback helps to target where improvements are needed and make best use of government funding. For example, as part of the discovery work for the NeXt Warning System, the EA looked into how the current flood warning service and supporting systems are designed, support and delivered. The report proposes recommendations on how they can build a next generation flood warning system to better support the needs of the users, the business and wider government.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010 the Environment Agency (and Natural Resources Wales) has worked with telephone providers to access and automatically register landline phone numbers onto the flood warning system. The service, which automatically adds phone numbers registered in areas at risk of flooding, now encompasses all four major Mobile Network Operators – O2, Three, Vodafone and EE.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2021, the new 6-year £5.2 billion capital investment programme, announced in the March 2020 Budget, will start. This will ensure a further 336,000 homes and non-residential properties such as businesses, schools and hospitals are better protected from flooding and coastal erosion.</p><p> </p><p>£24.9 million of this investment will be allocated annually to run the Flood Incident Management service which directly supports costs for Flood Warnings. In addition, £23.1 million will be spent over the next 5 years for developing and enhancing the service.</p><p> </p><p>The Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme has also allocated £150 million from 2021 to 2027 for ‘resilience actions’, such as tailored flood warning systems.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 02/02/2021 17:38:28 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1278430

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with relevant water management bodies, including (1) water companies and, (2) the Association of Drainage Authorities, about (a) increasing the maintenance of water courses, (b) achieving integrated catchment management, and (c) increasing private sector investment in flood defences.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL12308
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Ministers and officials meet regularly with water companies, the Association of Drainage Authorities and other stakeholders to discuss these and other matters that will help secure our long term resilience to flooding and costal erosion.</p><p>In July 2020 the Government published its long-term Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Policy Statement which sets out the Government's ambition to create a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. The Policy Statement sets out five key policies and over 40 actions, to deliver an integrated approach to managing water and develop a diverse range of sustainable funding and finance opportunities.</p><p>Between 2015 and 2020 we committed over £1 billion on the maintenance of flood defence assets. This is a real term increase in spending compared to the £812 million spent in the previous five years. Our Policy statement includes our commitment to ensure that there is a long-term approach to maintain our network of flood defences across the country, through a combination of investment and action by risk management authorities, government, riparian owners and wider beneficiaries. This, and all the actions set out in the Government's Policy Statement will continue to be delivered in partnership with all our stakeholders.</p><p>The Government's Strategic Policy Statement already requires Ofwat to ensure water companies improve planning and investment to prevent wastewater flooding and to improve infrastructure resilience against extreme flood events. Following the 2019 Price Review the water sector has committed to invest more than £1 billion to protect the environment, homes, businesses and drinking water from flooding.</p><p>Water companies are developing Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans that will inform the next price review. These plans provide a framework for organisations to work together, through which joint solutions and approaches can be developed to improve drainage and environmental water quality. Water companies are participating in and, in some cases, fund the Catchment Based Approach which is one of the Government's key mechanisms to deliver integrated catchment management.</p><p>Ahead of the next price review in 2024, the Government has committed to consider if additional outcome measures are required through future Price Reviews and the Environment Agency and Ofwat will develop a joint approach for how water companies should address flood and coastal resilience.</p><p>Between 2015-2021 the government's partnership investment programme has generated over £500 million from private and public sources to complement the government's grant in aid budget. This investment has helped deliver flood defence projects across England helping the Government meet its commitment of better protecting 300,000 homes from flooding.</p><p>The Government's Policy Statement sets out how we will explore opportunities to further incentivise contributions from others including from businesses and the private sector. On 1 February we published a call for evidence on strengthening the assessment of local factors in the government's flood and coastal defence programme, including how we can incentivise increased private sector contributions to flood and coastal defence projects.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 02/02/2021 17:22:20 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

647950

registered interest
date	29/11/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to attract more private funding into the construction of flood defences; and whether this will include providing a return to investors on their investment in such projects and allowing corporate investors more control over the investments made.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3647
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2016 answer text <p>Government changed its funding approach in 2011 to provide space for and encourage private sector and other contributions to Government supported flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes. Private sector contributors benefit from the reduction in flood risk which their investment buys. The return on these investments vary from scheme to scheme depending on the level of protection achieved by the project but private sector contributors can choose how much they invest.</p><p> </p><p>Legislation was introduced in the Finance Bill 2015 to enable companies and unincorporated businesses to receive a tax relief on their contributions to partnership funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes. This is intended to encourage private sector contributions to projects across the country through partnership funding, allowing more schemes to go ahead.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/12/2016 14:40:28 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

647951

registered interest
date	29/11/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) as a viable approach to the funding of flood defence projects; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which this approach would ensure an appropriate sharing of costs and risks between the contractor and the DBFO client.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3648
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2016 answer text <p>Most flood defence improvement schemes managed by the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities are delivered through private sector suppliers. When considering how best to procure the improvement and maintenance of defences the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities consider a wide range of options including design, build and operate. Private financing may form part of this where the scheme is not fully funded by government.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/12/2016 14:38:52 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

647952

registered interest
date	29/11/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the prioritisation of projects designed to address drainage, water level and flood risks; and what is their estimate of the costs of funding a programme to address these risks.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2016 answer text <p>Flood defence projects are prioritised based on the economic benefits they could achieve in terms of the flood damages they would avoid and the number of homes that would be better protected from flooding or coastal erosion.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency's Long Term Investment Scenarios report represents the best currently available projections of potential long term costs to manage flood and coastal risk under a range of scenarios reflecting future uncertainties.</p><p> </p><p>The latest report confirms that current Government investment plans to 2020, together with forecast local contributions, are in line with the level the Environment Agency’s assessment indicates is necessary to reduce overall flood risk.</p><p> </p><p>The report it available on the GOV.UK website.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/12/2016 14:38:23 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

647953

registered interest
date	29/11/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to planning public investments for flood protection over a 25 year timeframe in order to align public investment planning more closely with corporate investment planning and to attract more private sector partnership funding.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3650
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2016 answer text <p>The Environment Agency's Long Term Investment Scenarios report models investment options 50 years into the future. This analysis is used by Government when considering the case for future investment in flood risk management, for example at spending reviews.</p><p> </p><p>At the last spending review we confirmed a record level, six-year capital commitment up to 2021. This has allowed the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities to plan and leverage further contributions, including funding from the private sector.</p><p> </p><p>Building on the findings of the National Flood Resilience Review, Defra will now work with the Environment Agency, HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure Commission to consider long term investment needs and funding options after 2021.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/12/2016 14:37:46 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

647954

registered interest
date	29/11/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of what is a fair form of contract between private and public sectors in flood defence funding.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2016 answer text <p>The Environment Agency has published guidance[1] that describes the principles that Risk Management Authorities should follow when implementing the Government’s partnership funding policy[2] and promoting flood and coastal risk management projects. This includes securing contributions from beneficiaries for flood risk management schemes.</p><p> </p><p>All contributions are voluntary. Most private contributions are associated with the direct reduction of risk to the business location alone. However in some situations, where businesses are within an at-risk community, their contributions may also be used to protect the adjacent community. Where this is the case, the Government offers tax incentives in support.</p><p> </p><p>The terms on which contributions are secured is a matter for each Risk Management Authority. The guidance describes the key elements these terms should consider. The Environment Agency has standard terms template agreements for use when securing contributions from the public and private sectors towards its projects.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140320133552/http:/cdn.environment-agency.gov.uk/lit_6696_f143f7.pdf" target="_blank">Principles for implementing flood and coastal resilience funding partnerships</a> (Environment Agency 2012)</p><p>[2] ‘Flood and coastal resilience partnership funding’ <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flood-and-coastal-resilience-partnership-funding-an-introductory-guide" target="_blank">introductory guide</a> (Defra 2011)</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble attachment 1 file name flood-coastal-resilience-intro-guide.pdf title Principles for implementing 2 file name Flooding and Coastal resilience funding.pdf title introductory guide question first answered 13/12/2016 17:33:02 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

647955

registered interest
date	29/11/2016
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of investment required in resources and skills to undertake necessary flood prevention measures.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3652
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2016 answer text <p>The Environment Agency is delivering a £2.5 billion 6 year investment programme to improve flood and coastal erosion risk management, including asset maintenance. The Environment Agency is recruiting an additional 200 skilled staff having reviewed the resources required to deliver the programme.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/12/2016 14:33:43 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

169826

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to address river and flood defence asset maintenance in response to the report published by the National Audit Office, entitled Strategic Flood Risk Management, HC780, last month.
tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
uin	218387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>Maintaining flood defence assets depends on a combination of capital and revenue funding. This Government is spending £3.2 billion on flood management and defences in this Parliament, which is a real terms increase and half a billion pounds more than in the previous five years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We have committed a record level £2.3 billion capital funding right up until 2021. This is a real terms average increase in capital investment compared with the current spending review period and the long-term commitments will allow us to get better value for money. We have also provided an extra £70 million of revenue funding for the Environment Agency to maintain its defences: £35 million this year and £35 million next year, on top of the £5 million we had already committed in 2015/16 before the winter storms.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The National Audit Office report ‘Strategic Flood Risk Management’ was considered by the Public Accounts Committee on 24 November. The Government will respond to the Committee’s recommendations in early 2015.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 17/12/2014 10:48:08 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

169827

registered interest
date	11/12/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to facilitate communities wishing to take over the maintenance and running of flood defence systems in areas where the Environment Agency is withdrawing; and if she will permit the funding of a local authority special levy for new internal drainage boards (IDBs) on the same basis on which her Department funds those authorities within the boundaries of existing IDBs.
tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
uin	218388
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>It is important that the Environment Agency is able to focus its efforts and resources in those areas where the risk of flooding to communities, businesses and property are greatest.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In the areas where the Evironment Agency is withdrawing from land drainage activities, the Agency is committed to working closely with landowners, farmers, householders and businesses to help them consider the options available to them for taking over the maintenance activities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We feel that, in these areas, responsibility for local watercourse management sits more appropriately with expert local bodies, including local authorities and IDBs as well as riparian owners, since these bodies are best placed to take decisions on local priorities in discussion with their communities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are keen to enable these bodies, and individuals, to act effectively in partnerships at a local level to achieve the outcomes that communities want to see. We are engaged in a range of actions to make it easier for farmers and landowners who wish to undertake their own de-silting and channel maintenance activities. We also very much welcome the establishment of IDBs where these are proposed and supported by the local community.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We recognise the challenges associated with raising funds for flood risk locally, including for the establishment of new IDBs, and are continuing to explore options in this area together with the Department for Communities and Local Government</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Cornwall answering member printed Dan Rogerson question first answered 17/12/2014 17:08:01 answering member 1504 label Biography information for Dan Rogerson
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering