Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing capital and revenue funding for flood risk management projects to local authorities.

This is answered on the basis that ‘developing’ should read ‘devolving’ in the question above: such that the question refers to the potential to devolve flood risk management funding for England to local authorities.

Government targets flood risk management funding to minimise household risk and wider economic impacts; and this requires a national perspective on the allocation of grants.

However, local areas already provide significant input into flood risk management in their area: with local authorities, internal drainage boards, Regional Flood and Coastal Committees and the Environment Agency area teams deciding which flood defence improvement schemes to build and promote into the national capital programme.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the lead government department for flooding policy.