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<p>At the last Spending Review the Government increased funding for maintenance of
flood defences by £22 million per year. This funding ensures flood defences are kept
in good working order. In 2023/24, the Government has gone even further, including
switching £25 million from the capital programme to fund maintenance, so that the
total allocation for this year is over £220 million.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the Environment
Agency (EA) are assessing the effects of inflation on the EA’s ability to maintain
its flood and coastal risk management assets at the required condition. The effects
of inflation and the recent winter storms have had an impact on flood defence condition.</p><p>
</p><p>As of Q3, 97.2% of EA maintained assets in high consequence systems were at
or above the required condition. Where assets are not in required condition, this
identifies that work is required. It does not mean that there is a risk of asset failure
or that performance in a flood is compromised.</p><p> </p><p>The EA are currently
funded to maintain between 94-95% of high consequence EA assets at their target condition.
The long-term target is to ensure 98% of all such assets are at required condition.
Future flood defence maintenance budgets will be determined as part of the next Spending
Review.</p>
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