Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Carmichael Excerpts
Thursday 5th July 2012

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Caroline Spelman Portrait Mrs Spelman
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Mr Speaker, you can understand that the Ministers who inherited from the previous Government the ticking time bomb of having no way forward on the statement of principles are frustrated by the suggestion that we get a grip on this. We have, and we are close to an agreement that will provide both universality and affordability of insurance. That underlines the significance of the dereliction of duty by the hon. Gentleman’s party when in office.

Neil Carmichael Portrait Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)
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In thanking the Secretary of State for her Department’s help with flood management issues in my constituency, does she agree that flood risk assessments should include natural and man-made defences in any planning?

Caroline Spelman Portrait Mrs Spelman
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Putting sustainable development at the heart of the planning reform means that flood-affected and flood-prone areas now give greater consideration to their sustainability. Natural and man-made flood defences can both help to make an area prone to flooding more sustainable.