Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will (a) provide funding for and (b) accelerate upland management schemes to prevent flooding in lower catchment areas in York and North Yorkshire.

The Government is providing funding for upland and catchment-based management measures that help reduce flood risk in downstream communities, including in York and North Yorkshire.

A new 3-year £4.2 billion Flood and Coastal Risk Management Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out within the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025. This will mean investment goes where it is most needed.

Upstream management of water is necessary to enable downstream defences to continue to operate effectively. The Ousewem project, funded with £6 million from the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, will enhance upstream land management in the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse catchments.

The project, together with other work, such as the Environment Agency’s York Flood Alleviation Scheme long term plan, will help identify and shape future upstream investment, and support adaptation to climate change, in collaboration with partners and landowners.