Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 January 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 8 January 2004 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, what plans she has to purchase Geodesign Pallet Barriers to prevent flood damage in (a) the Vale of York and (b) elsewhere; and what assessment she has made of their effectiveness.

Answer: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to purchase Geodesign Pallet Barriers to prevent flood damage in (a) the Vale of York and (b) elsewhere; and what assessment she has made of their effectiveness. [143879] Mr. Morley: We have no plans to purchase such barriers. Purchase would be a matter for the operating authorities to decide. The Environment Agency are currently trialling pallet barriers and other temporary, moveable defences on the River Severn. Once these trails are completed the Agency's assessment will be made available to other operating authorities. The usefulness of such moveable defences will be a matter for the Agency and local authorities to determine in light of local conditions.

Secondary information