Written question asked by Roger Williams (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 23 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 October 2008. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Maps: Environment Agency

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria the Environment Agency uses to prioritise areas for preparing flooding maps with light detection and ranging technology.

Answer: By March 2011 the Environment Agency will have increased its coverage of digital terrain data. This will provide an accurate, cost-effective model of terrain suitable for assessing flood risk in areas having between a 1 per cent. and 0.1 per cent. annual probability of fluvial flooding, or between a 0.5 per cent. and 0.1 per cent. annual probability of tidal flooding in any year.The Environment Agency has developed a three-year programme to obtain this level of coverage starting with the areas identified by Catchment Flood Management Plans, Shoreline Management Plans and National Flood Risk Assessment as at highest risk.

Secondary information