Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 November 2005. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Monday, 21 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Tidal Surges (Essex)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates have been made of the (a) probabilities and (b) heights of tidal surges affecting the Essex coastline in each of the next five decades; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Defra has policy responsibility for flood risk management in England. The principal authority with operational responsibility is the Environment Agency. The agency has undertaken no work to assign future probabilities to surge height estimates along the Essex coast. However, detailed studies have been completed to determine peak water levels for design and planning purposes along the Thames Estuary. These water levels are projected into the future by applying the Defra precautionary allowances for the effects of sea level rise. The Environment Agency has commissioned research to better understand future probabilities of sea levels in the Southern North Sea.

Secondary information