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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has for the restoration of wetlands, peatlands, floodplains and salt marshes as a flood defence mechanism.

The Government has committed to investing £300 million in standalone natural flood management (NFM) schemes between now and 2036. Eligible schemes can include floodplain wetland and floodplain restoration and management, retaining water within peatland habitats, and saltmarsh management.

By 2030, we will also invest £85 million to restore and manage peatlands. Peatland restoration improves flood resilience by slowing water leaving headwater catchments and significantly reducing peak flows through measures such as improving surface roughness, grip and gulley blocking.