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Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 November 2005. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 10 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Food Defences

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department and its related agencies spent on flood defences in each year since 1997.
Answer

Defra funds most of the Environment Agency's flood related work and grant aids individual projects undertaken by local authorities and, in low-lying areas, internal drainage boards. The programme to manage risk is driven by these operating authorities; Defra does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on what specific projects to undertake. The following table shows Defra grant and, additionally for local authorities, Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue) (SCE(R)):

£ million
Environment Agency LAs and IDBs
1997–98 287.9 4.9
1998–99 285.6 3.3
1999–2000 294.3 3.5
2000–01 302.1 4.3
2001–02 333.9 6.5
2002–03 341.5 13.7
2003–04 385.7 8.6
2004–05 425.5 9.2
(14) Expenditure on defences against flooding from rivers and the sea; excludes flood warning.
(15) Defra capital grant and SCE(R) to local authorities and internal drainage boards.

A significant sum is also provided in Defra grant and SCE(R)) to local authorities for projects to manage risk from coastal erosion; these also often provide benefits in terms of risk of flooding from the sea but have not been included in the above figures. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provides further support to local authorities through its Revenue Support Grant mechanism.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
25457; 439 c673-4W;439 c673-4W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Flood control Expenditure Floods
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk