Labour will today call for “an independent review into the
floods” and the Government’s response to them.
MPs will be asked to support the call as they debate the
floods' impact on communities and businesses as part of Labour's
opposition day.
Prime Minister has been missing in action,
and the devastation across the country follows years of Tory cuts
to flood defence spending, the Environment Agency, emergency
services and local councils.
The Conservative government is also failing to adequately
respond to the climate emergency and the dangers it represents to
our towns and cities, especially in coastal areas.
, Shadow Secretary of State
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, commenting
said:
“Boris Johnson has proved himself to be a part-time Prime
Minister who is unwilling to help communities and businesses that
have suffered terribly because of the floods.
“There needs to be an independent review into the
government’s woefully slow response to help flood-hit
communities. We need to know how many homes and businesses have
been affected, and what additional funding will be made available
to local authorities and emergency services.
“Labour will continue to support communities devastated by
the floods and hold the government to account for its
inaction.”
Ends
Note to Editors:
· The
wording of the Labour motion put to the house for the Opposition
Day Debate is as follows:
"That this House notes the damage caused by Storm Ciara and
Storm Dennis and expresses thanks to workers from the Environment
Agency, emergency services, local councils and volunteers;
regrets that the Prime Minister has not yet visited any areas
affected by flooding and did not call a COBRA meeting; and calls
for Ministers to set up an independent review into the floods,
including the Government’s response, the adequacy of the funding
provided for flood defences and prevention, difficulties facing
homes and businesses with getting insurance and what
lessons need to be learned in light of the climate emergency and
increased likelihood of flooding in the future."
Storm Ciara and Dennis
· Storm
Ciara brought heavy rainfall which caused severe disruption
across the British Isles. The Environment Agency issued 186 flood
alerts, 251 flood warnings (with more than 200 in England, more
than 60 in Scotland, and 17 in Wales) and 1 severe flood warning
in England (which was later withdrawn). Hundreds of thousands of
people were left without power due to the
storm. Source: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-storm-centre/storm-ciara
· Storm
Dennis is believed to have caused the worst winter floods in
recent times, in part because the rain was so widespread but also
because it has fallen on ground already saturated from Storm
Ciara the previous week. Source: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-storm-centre/storm-dennis
Funding
· After
the 2015 flooding, the then Prime Minister, , said that “money is no
object”. The Government is yet to honour this
commitment. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/11/uk-floods-david-cameron-unlimited-public-funds
· According
to the Scape Group report, Government spending on vital flood
defences across England has fallen by £64million since 2015. They
have called for an urgent 45% increase in funding for the
Environment Agency over the next six years to cope with floods
and storm surges brought on by climate
change. Source: https://www.scapegroup.co.uk/uploads/research/Scape-Group-A-Climate-Emergency-Flood-Defences-for-the-Future-Report.pdf
· In
early 2019, the Environment Agency said at least £1bn a year was
needed to tackle flooding and coastal erosion – more than the
£600m-£800m a year that has been spent since
2010. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-agency-chair-calls-for-new-approach-to-flood-and-coastal-resilience
· Many
households can’t afford to meet the insurance premiums which have
skyrocketed, while a recent study showed that 20,000 homes not
protected by the Government’s insurance scheme, are also not
protected by flood defences. Source: https://brightblue.org.uk/70000-english-homes-in-areas-prone-to-flooding/
· Spending
on flood-hit Yorkshire and the Humber in particular, has been cut
by £7m despite regular extreme weather in the
region. Source: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/weather/flooding-funding-drops-ps7m-yorkshire-despite-major-rise-extreme-weather-1995046
