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Pitt Report

I am happy to encourage all efforts to deal with the problem that anyone is prepared to make. The fact that my hon. Friend has described community self-help as part of the solution is very much in keeping with what Sir Michael Pitt said in his report. One of his most striking observations was that, although Government, local authorities, the Environment Agency and others should act, ultimately this was also a matter for individual responsibility, because we can all be affected and we do not know when flooding may come. I applaud the approach that my hon. Friend has advocated, and I hope to see more of it around the country.