Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (DEFRA) : The Government extends
its deepest sympathies to the citizens of Valencia and more
widely across Spain, where recent floods have had devastating
impacts on communities including the tragic loss of more than 200
lives. These events are a stark reminder of the challenges we
face in a changing climate.
This Government set up the first ever Floods Resilience
Taskforce, on 12 September. The Taskforce marks a new approach to
preparing for flooding, and working between national, regional
and local government. It brings together Ministers and
stakeholders, including Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet
Office, Mayoral Offices, the Environment Agency, the Met Office,
devolved administrations, Local Resilience Forums, emergency
responders, and the National Farmers Union, among others.
As announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will
invest £2.4 billion over two years to improve flood resilience
and better protect communities across the country, including from
coastal erosion.
But this Government inherited an outdated funding formula for
allocating money to proposed flood defences. Established in 2011,
the existing formula slows down the delivery of new flood schemes
through a complex application process, and also neglects more
innovative approaches to flood management such as nature-based
approaches and sustainable drainage.
To speed up the delivery of new defences and ensure that the
challenges facing businesses and rural and coastal communities
are adequately taken into account, a consultation will be
launched in the new year which will include a review of the
existing formula. We also want to ensure that floods funding
policy drives close partnership working and brings in wider
financial contributions to flood schemes, to make government
funding go further.
Additional financial support will also be provided to rural
communities, recognising the significant impact of flooding on
farmers. £50 million will be distributed to internal drainage
boards (IDBs), the public bodies responsible for managing water
levels for agricultural and environmental needs in a particular
area.
This transformational investment will put IDBs on a firm footing
to deliver their vital role in flood and water management for
years to come. IDBs that submit successful bids will be able to
spend the £50 million on projects over the next two years. This
will benefit projects that will improve, repair or replace IDB
assets – including flood barriers, embankments and maintenance of
watercourses. The funding will support projects which reduce
risks and impacts from flooding to farmer and rural communities
across England. The Environment Agency has begun work with IDBs
to distribute the funding from today.
This follows confirmation of payments to farmers impacted by last
year's severe weather through the Farming Recovery Fund. A total
of £60 million will be distributed to eligible farmers, via
recovery payments of between £2,895 and £25,000 to around 13,000
farm businesses. Payments are expected to land in farmers'
accounts from 21 November.
Taken together, the measures announced today will deliver
meaningful change for communities across the country. They
represent a significant package of funding and a promise of
reform which show that this Government will continue to act to
ensure people are better protected from flooding right across the
country.
