To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the port of Great Yarmouth is exempt from needing a dredging or dumping licence under Section 75 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009; and, if so, under what authority that exemption was made.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the port of Great Yarmouth is exempt from needing a dredging or dumping licence under Section 75 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009; and, if so, under what authority that exemption was made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of dredging works which will not have been completed at the proposed time of transfer of British Waterways' canals and rivers to the Canal & River Trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of dredging works which will not have been completed at the proposed time of transfer of British Waterways' canals and rivers to the Canal & River Trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the backlog of dredging on British Waterways' canals and rivers to be cleared.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the backlog of dredging on British Waterways' canals and rivers to be cleared.

(2) what estimate she has made of the length of British Waterways' canals and rivers to be dredged in 2011-12.

(2) what estimate she has made of the length of British Waterways' canals and rivers to be dredged in 2011-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the length of waterways managed by British Waterways that require dredging; and what the cost would be of carrying out such dredging;

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the length of waterways managed by British Waterways that require dredging; and what the cost would be of carrying out such dredging;

The Petition of the residents of Falmouth, Declares that the Petitioners believe that the dredging of Falmouth Harbour should be permitted to go ahead so as to enable the implementation of the Port of Falmouth Masterplan which is essential to the future prosperity of Falmouth. The Petitioners therefore request that...

The Petition of the residents of Falmouth, Declares that the Petitioners believe that the dredging of Falmouth Harbour should be permitted to go ahead so as to enable the implementation of the Port of Falmouth Masterplan which is essential to the future prosperity of Falmouth. The Petitioners therefore request that...

Public petition from the residents of Falmouth on the Port of Falmouth Masterplan.

Public petition from the residents of Falmouth on the Port of Falmouth Masterplan.

This petition states:"The Petition of the residents of Falmouth,""Declares that the Petitioners believe that the dredging of Falmouth Harbour should be permitted to go ahead so as to enable the implementation of the Port of Falmouth Masterplan which is essential to the future prosperity of Falmouth.""The Petitioners therefore request that...

This petition states:"The Petition of the residents of Falmouth,""Declares that the Petitioners believe that the dredging of Falmouth Harbour should be permitted to go ahead so as to enable the implementation of the Port of Falmouth Masterplan which is essential to the future prosperity of Falmouth.""The Petitioners therefore request that...

Westminster Hall debate on a motion for the adjournment on flood and water management. (Relevant documents: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee first report of session 2010-12, HC 522, and the Government response, HC 922) Motion made, and question proposed, that the sitting be now adjourned.

Westminster Hall debate on a motion for the adjournment on flood and water management. (Relevant documents: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee first report of session 2010-12, HC 522, and the Government response, HC 922) Motion made, and question proposed, that the sitting be now adjourned.

The hon. Lady is making a compelling case on many fronts. Planning and misconnections are a considerable problem around the country, and a number of misconnections have been made in my area, but would creating an obligation for water companies to be statutory consultees in relation to planning applications make...

The hon. Lady is making a compelling case on many fronts. Planning and misconnections are a considerable problem around the country, and a number of misconnections have been made in my area, but would creating an obligation for water companies to be statutory consultees in relation to planning applications make...

I think we need both approaches. The system is failing because of the lack of consultation with water companies. Because they are not statutory consultees, they are being asked to link up to new developments where they do not think it is appropriate. One example is a proposal to build...

I think we need both approaches. The system is failing because of the lack of consultation with water companies. Because they are not statutory consultees, they are being asked to link up to new developments where they do not think it is appropriate. One example is a proposal to build...

I wonder whether the Committee looked at bringing in national flood protection standards. As soon as flooding moves out of the public eye, and in the face of financial difficulties, funding tends to be cut, with a long-term deleterious impact. Holland has statutory national flood standards, which trigger investment and...

I wonder whether the Committee looked at bringing in national flood protection standards. As soon as flooding moves out of the public eye, and in the face of financial difficulties, funding tends to be cut, with a long-term deleterious impact. Holland has statutory national flood standards, which trigger investment and...

My hon. Friend pre-empts my next point. Why has there been a delay in the consultation on and implementation of national standards for SUDS? Many have expressed to me their real concern about that. When will the provisions on SUDS be implemented?

My hon. Friend pre-empts my next point. Why has there been a delay in the consultation on and implementation of national standards for SUDS? Many have expressed to me their real concern about that. When will the provisions on SUDS be implemented?

If the work is not done, large numbers of people and properties will either have huge excessive insurance to pay or will not be able to get insurance. The worry of not having one's own house insured is a terrible burden on people. That must be noted.

If the work is not done, large numbers of people and properties will either have huge excessive insurance to pay or will not be able to get insurance. The worry of not having one's own house insured is a terrible burden on people. That must be noted.

I will take that opportunity to bring forward my comments on floods insurance. There is an urgent need for the Government to agree with the insurance industry that when the statement of principles expires in 2013, there will be an insurance regime in place. Flood protection and resilience measures taken...

I will take that opportunity to bring forward my comments on floods insurance. There is an urgent need for the Government to agree with the insurance industry that when the statement of principles expires in 2013, there will be an insurance regime in place. Flood protection and resilience measures taken...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Walker, and a great pleasure to follow the hon. Lady, who used to be the hon. Member for the Vale of York and is now the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton. In 2010, we spent many hours together in...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Walker, and a great pleasure to follow the hon. Lady, who used to be the hon. Member for the Vale of York and is now the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton. In 2010, we spent many hours together in...

The hon. Gentleman's party created them.

The hon. Gentleman's party created them.

I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. We have talked about introducing minimum standards, and we must move towards consensus, because that is in everyone's interest. The Government have given a commitment to deliver 15% efficiency savings in Environment Agency flood defence budgets, but that leaves an overall reduction in...

I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. We have talked about introducing minimum standards, and we must move towards consensus, because that is in everyone's interest. The Government have given a commitment to deliver 15% efficiency savings in Environment Agency flood defence budgets, but that leaves an overall reduction in...

On that point, may I put on the record the fact that all of us acknowledge that there is still—I know that the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness would not want to give the opposite impression, far from it—real deprivation in rural England and Wales as well?

On that point, may I put on the record the fact that all of us acknowledge that there is still—I know that the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness would not want to give the opposite impression, far from it—real deprivation in rural England and Wales as well?