Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 July 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 17 July 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people live in areas with a high risk of flooding. - There is no estimate for the number of people at high risk of flooding throughout the UK, but 2.1 million properties within floodplains.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people live in areas with a high risk of flooding. [125577] Mr. Morley: There is no estimate for the number of people at high risk of flooding throughout the UK. The UK wide estimate, based on information currently available, is that there are about 2.1 million properties within floodplains. Of these approximately 1.8 million are in England and Wales and the majority of these are protected by flood defence structures.

Secondary information