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 Tuesday, 15 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Flooding/Flood Defences

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Department and its related agencies has commissioned on flood defence policy since 1997; and how much this research has cost.

Answer: The Department and the Environment Agency have a joint user-oriented thematic programme of research and development addressing the management of risks from flooding and coastal erosion.This joint R&D programme covers all aspects of flood and coastal erosion risk management, from design, planning, monitoring and appraisal, through to research to support development of flood and coastal policy and guidance.Defra and the Environment Agency have commissioned around 200 projects with a range of academic and non-academic establishments since 1997. The details of most projects, including all recent technical reports, are available from http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/research/RandDProiects.htmApproximately £26 million was spent on this research between 1997–98 and 2004–05. Defra has provided approximately two thirds of the funding in each year.

Secondary information