Flooding

Andrew Gwynne Excerpts

Tuesday 5th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

Yes, the £5,000 does apply to people who do not have insurance. The money is being given directly to local authorities to administer, so affected residents should get in touch with their local councils.

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

The River Tame in the Dukinfield part of my constituency breached the retaining wall, flooding a small part of the town where it is channelled through that part of Tameside. The flooding would have been much worse had it not been for the extensive flood plains around Denton and Reddish Vale in the lower Tame valley, which took the excess water. My concern, and the concern of my constituents, is that the Greater Manchester green belt is up for review next year, and developers are already seeking to have plots of land on those very same flood plains removed from the green belt for development. The Secretary of State has told the House what is in the national planning policy framework. Will she now tell us clearly that she does not expect those flood plains to be taken out of the green belt?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. It really is a question for the Communities Secretary and the local authority in question.