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Flood and Water Management Bill

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: new clause 9—Staffing and resources for the Environment Agency— '(1) The Secretary of State must make an assessment of the staff, equipment and resources required by the Environment Agency to implement the provisions of the Act in accordance with the lessons learnt from the floods of 2007.'. New clause 20- The role of Fire and Rescue Authorities during major flooding- '(1) A fire and rescue authority must make provision for the purpose of rescuing people and protecting them from serious harm in the event of major flooding in its area. (2) In making the provision required by subsection (1), a fire and rescue authority must- (a) secure the provision of such personnel, services and training as may be necessary efficiently to meet all reasonable requirements; (b) make arrangements for dealing with calls for help; (c) make arrangements for obtaining necessary information; and (d) make arrangements for ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to prevent or limit damage to property resulting from action taken pursuant to such provision. (3) Where- (a) a fire and rescue authority maintains specialist resources ("the first authority"); (b) major flooding has occurred or is likely to occur in the area of another fire and rescue authority ("the second authority"); and (c) the second authority has requested the first authority to use those resources in the second authority's area, the first authority must use its specialist resources in the area of the second authority to such extent as is reasonable for the purpose of dealing with the emergency. (4) In this section- (a) "major flooding" means flooding that causes or is likely to cause one or more individuals to die, be seriously injured or become seriously ill as a result from- (i) natural causes; or (ii) an escape of water from a large raised reservoir; (b) "specialist resources" means resources maintained for the purpose of taking action pursuant to provision made in accordance with subsection (1) including any personnel who have received specialist training for that purpose; (c) "large raised reservoir" has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Reservoir Act 1975 (ambit of Act and interpretation).'. Amendment 24, in clause 6, page 4, line 37, at end add- '(g) the fire and rescue authorities.'. Amendment 25, page 5, line 9, at end add- '(e) a fire and rescue authority that exercises functions in relation to an area in Wales.'. Amendment 27, in clause 7, page 5, line 35, at end insert 'the fire and rescue authorities,'. Amendment 26, page 5, line 40, at end add- '(e) a fire and rescue authority that exercises functions in relation to an area in England.'. Amendment 5, in clause 9, page 7, line 42, at end add- '(10) The Minister shall as soon as possible instigate, publish and have regard to a review undertaken by a panel of independent persons pertaining to the- 2 Feb 2010 : Column 201 (a) recruitment costs which will be incurred by local authorities in implementing the provisions of this section; and (b) training and equipment costs incurred by local authorities in implementing the provisions of this section.'. Amendment 4, in clause 18, page 13, line 20, at end add- '(4) A report under this section must be laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.'. Government amendments 31 to 34. Amendment 28, in clause 38, page 24, leave out lines 5 and 6 and insert- '(3) Condition 2 is that in carrying out the work the Agency- (a) has regard to the national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy under section 7, and (b) does not create or increase potential harmful consequences of a kind listed in section 2(4)(a) to (d)'. Government amendments 48 and 49.