SUBSTANTIVE
How many flood defence schemes are planned to begin construction under the Government's six-year flood defence programme in 2015. [900408]
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP:
One hundred and sixty-one schemes are due to start this financial year, as part of our £2.3 billion, six-year programme, which will protect an additional 300,000 properties by 2021. That represents a real-terms increase in flood investment.
SUPPLEMENTARY
“Will the Secretary of State join me in welcoming the work of the three internal drainage boards that affect my constituency, Witham First District IDB, Witham Third District IDB and Upper Witham IDB? What steps will the Government take to ensure that the Environment Agency, which is lackadaisical in my local area, and other parties work together more effectively for the benefit of my constituents in Lincoln and the people of Lincolnshire?”
Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP:
“Well I thank my Hon Friend for his question. Like him, I’m a huge fan of internal drainage boards, we have some fantastic drainage boards in Norfolk, and I’ve also been to Boston to visit the internal drainage boards there as well. I want internal drainage boards to work closely with the Environmental Agency to continue to protect homes and farmlands, and I would like to see more of this model rolled out across the country.”
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For further information, please contact Karl McCartney MP at[email protected] / 020 7219 7221.