The EFRA Committee has launched a new call for evidence as
it investigates how government and public services respond
immediately after severe flooding, as the UK is expected to face
increasing levels of rainfall and a growing risk of flash floods
in the future.
MPs are interested to learn how state agencies, local
authorities, water and energy companies, and other providers of
essential services, work together to protect communities and
respond to incidents such as power cuts that affect multiple
sectors.
The cross-party Committee will also consider the impacts on
rural communities when flooding damages bridges, power networks,
roads, and other infrastructure that may leave them
cut-off.
This new workstream forms part of the Committee's wider work on
the theme of climate adaptation and
emergency response, under which MPs have investigated the
government's approach to coastal erosion and wildfires and the
human cost of these emergencies.
A report in 2024 by the NAO found that up
to 51% of water supply infrastructure, 77% of rail infrastructure
and 21% of electricity infrastructure are vulnerable to
flooding.
The full terms of reference for this call for evidence are
included below.
EFRA Committee Chair MP said:
Like the droughts we have just seen over summer, floods are
expected to become an increasingly frequent and potentially
devastating feature of our climate. As our weather changes, so
too must the strategies of our government and providers of key
services and infrastructure.
The EFRA Committee now wants to look at how society can adapt
to this threat and bounce back in the aftermath of major floods.
We must look for ways to ensure life can get back on track after
an incident.
Far beyond the confines of Westminster, we want to see where
improvements can be made to the preparations and support for
rural areas affected by flooding. Rural communities are where
people and businesses with the fewest means to protect themselves
may reside. They deserve to be valued and protected as much as
our towns and cities.
Terms of reference
The Committee now welcomes written evidence from experts,
organisations and affected communities that respond to any of the
following terms of reference. Submissions should be made via the Committee's
website by 9 October 2026.
- How prepared is the national response for flooding events
that affect multiple critical infrastructure sectors at the same
time, such as transport, food, water and energy?
- How effective are current arrangements for coordinating
responses across different sectors during major flood
events?
- What are the immediate impacts of flooding events on rural
communities, farming businesses, livelihoods, and people's
wellbeing?
- How do public bodies, including Local Resilience Forums,
ensure communities are able to access critical supplies,
particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas?
- What challenges, if any, do public bodies and local
authorities face in meeting their responsibilities during flood
emergencies under the current legislative framework such as the
Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and Flood and Water Management Act
2010?
- What resources are available at a local level for immediate
recovery from a flood event and to what extent are they
sufficient and delivered in a timely manner?
- Given that responsibility for flood response is shared across
multiple national and local bodies, how effective is coordination
during and immediately after a flood event?
ENDS
Note to editors:
