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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of home insurers have (i) met and (ii) failed to meet their quotas to issue insurance policies to properties in high flood-risk areas in the last two years; and on how many occasions the Financial Conduct Authority has taken action against insurers who failed to meet those quotas.

Since the Scheme’s launch in April 2016, over 45 insurers are now offering Flood Re backed policies, representing over 90% of the market. Between April and September 2016, the Flood Re Scheme has provided backing to 53,000 policies.

We have no powers to force insurers to make use of Flood Re. These powers, in the Water Act 2014, relate to the flood obligation. Given that Flood Re is operating well, Ministers currently have no intention to use these powers.