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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that home insurance is offered to people living in flood risk areas.

Flood Re will protect those at risk of flooding by effectively limiting the amount that high risk households would need to pay on the flood insurance element of their household premiums. The limit on the premium will differ according to Council Tax band, rising for properties in higher bands.

Only 1-2% of households at highest risk of flooding will need to be considered for Flood Re. Others can continue to access cheaper flood insurance on the open market.

Insurers have agreed to continue to abide by their commitments in the Statement of Principles ensuring access to flood insurance until Flood Re is fully operational. Flood Re is on schedule to be established by July 2015.