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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the cost of insurance premiums for homes at high risk of flooding in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

Flood Re is a joint Government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance through their insurance provider.

In 2024/25, Flood Re provided cover for over 346,000 household policies. 650,000 properties have benefitted since the scheme’s launch. Notably, prior to Flood Re’s inception, the average home insurance quote for a householder with a flood claim was about £4,400. As of December 2024, the average was c. £1,100. Additionally, 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 10 or more insurers.

I met with senior leaders from the insurance industry this month. We discussed how the industry can support customers both to secure relevant and affordable insurance, and at the point of claim, particularly for householders in areas at high risk of flooding such as Hexham constituency, Northumberland, Newcastle, the North East, and across England.