Certainly the Environment Agency will examine incidents of flooding wherever they occur, and will obviously want to learn lessons and determine strategies to see what can be done to avoid flooding in future. The right hon. Gentleman mentioned a range of areas that might be, or were, flooded. Clearly, the...

Certainly the Environment Agency will examine incidents of flooding wherever they occur, and will obviously want to learn lessons and determine strategies to see what can be done to avoid flooding in future. The right hon. Gentleman mentioned a range of areas that might be, or were, flooded. Clearly, the...

Very quickly; I am not sure how much time I have left.

Very quickly; I am not sure how much time I have left.

Will the Minister give reassurance to those in the many other river valleys—the Till, the Coquet, the Breamish—that their concerns will be addressed, and addressed openly, by the Environment Agency?

Will the Minister give reassurance to those in the many other river valleys—the Till, the Coquet, the Breamish—that their concerns will be addressed, and addressed openly, by the Environment Agency?

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. None the less, when there is such an event and the defences are not adequate, the impact on families and businesses is devastating. My hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, East and Saddleworth told me of his satisfaction at...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. None the less, when there is such an event and the defences are not adequate, the impact on families and businesses is devastating. My hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, East and Saddleworth told me of his satisfaction at...

It is fair to say that the work done by the Environment Agency saved many houses in Ponteland from being flooded as they were a few years ago. In fact, because of the work of the Environment Agency, only about a dozen were flooded. That is positive.

It is fair to say that the work done by the Environment Agency saved many houses in Ponteland from being flooded as they were a few years ago. In fact, because of the work of the Environment Agency, only about a dozen were flooded. That is positive.

I am glad to have the opportunity to mention the very serious floods that Northumberland experienced on the weekend of 5 September. They were devastating and went well beyond the experience and expectation of the communities involved. Hundreds of people will not be able to resume living in their homes...

I am glad to have the opportunity to mention the very serious floods that Northumberland experienced on the weekend of 5 September. They were devastating and went well beyond the experience and expectation of the communities involved. Hundreds of people will not be able to resume living in their homes...

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on securing this important debate. He rightly points out that a number of communities in Northumberland were affected by severe flooding, one of which was the village of Hepscot, just outside Morpeth. It was not affected to the same extent as Morpeth, but one...

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on securing this important debate. He rightly points out that a number of communities in Northumberland were affected by severe flooding, one of which was the village of Hepscot, just outside Morpeth. It was not affected to the same extent as Morpeth, but one...

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, to which I shall return in a moment. Drain and culvert maintenance is very important. I was discussing what the Environment Agency must do in a number of areas. In the Rothbury and Coquetdale areas, I want it to engage with local people...

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, to which I shall return in a moment. Drain and culvert maintenance is very important. I was discussing what the Environment Agency must do in a number of areas. In the Rothbury and Coquetdale areas, I want it to engage with local people...

In the light of the recent flooding events in England at the beginning of September, I am most grateful to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) for giving me this opportunity to speak on a really important aspect of my new responsibilities so soon after taking up...

In the light of the recent flooding events in England at the beginning of September, I am most grateful to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) for giving me this opportunity to speak on a really important aspect of my new responsibilities so soon after taking up...

I acknowledge that flood warnings save lives. I understand that more than 70,000 more people have registered with the Environment Agency flood warning system. I do not entirely accept that such an incident puts people off registering. The agency is improving its advice to the public. It is running flood...

I acknowledge that flood warnings save lives. I understand that more than 70,000 more people have registered with the Environment Agency flood warning system. I do not entirely accept that such an incident puts people off registering. The agency is improving its advice to the public. It is running flood...

I congratulate the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) on securing the debate. Does the Minister share my concerns that although we are all trying to encourage the Environment Agency to push up registration for flood warnings, when such an incident happens it puts people off signing up...

I congratulate the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) on securing the debate. Does the Minister share my concerns that although we are all trying to encourage the Environment Agency to push up registration for flood warnings, when such an incident happens it puts people off signing up...

Adjournment debate on floods in Northumberland.

Adjournment debate on floods in Northumberland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects work to start on the new Rothbury cottage hospital; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects work to start on the new Rothbury cottage hospital; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects work to start on the building of the new Rothbury community hospital, Northumberland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects work to start on the building of the new Rothbury community hospital, Northumberland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects tenders to be invited for the new Rothbury Community Hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects tenders to be invited for the new Rothbury Community Hospital.

If the review of the Private Finance Initiative in the NHS will entail delays in the design and tender process for the Rothbury community hospital.

If the review of the Private Finance Initiative in the NHS will entail delays in the design and tender process for the Rothbury community hospital.