Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Fourth Report - Flooding
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 170
Published 8 February 2021
Government response
Eighth Special Report - Flooding: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2019–21 · published 30 Apr 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
6
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 29
It is critical that the considerable outlay of public money through the Government’s £5.2 billion...
Recommendation
It is critical that the considerable outlay of public money through the Government’s £5.2 billion capital investment in flood defences is not wasted through a failure to adequately resource the maintenance of new and existing assets. We are concerned Flooding …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of maintaining flood defence assets, citing past and current increases in maintenance funding. However, it defers a decision on establishing a long-term resource budget settlement by stating that future spending will be determined by the 2021 Spending Review.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
View Details →
9
Recommendation
Deferred
We welcome the focus on protecting not just homes, but also other properties.
Recommendation
We welcome the focus on protecting not just homes, but also other properties. It is crucial that the success or otherwise of flood risk management interventions is closely monitored, in order to demonstrate progress toward strategic objectives and ensure value …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government commits to developing a national set of indicators, strengthening reporting, and tracking progress on the new capital programme, but defers providing further detail on these proposals 'in due course'.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
View Details →
25
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 101
A step change is needed in promoting the uptake of appropriate property flood resilience measures.
Recommendation
A step change is needed in promoting the uptake of appropriate property flood resilience measures. It is important that reforms to Flood Re to incentivise PFR form part of wider work aimed at encouraging people to improve the flood resilience …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for further action on property flood resilience and is currently running a consultation and call for evidence that cover the issues raised, stating they will review responses and provide an update on next steps, thereby deferring specific commitments.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
View Details →
30
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 123
While the uptake of sustainable drainage systems has improved in recent years, we are concerned...
Recommendation
While the uptake of sustainable drainage systems has improved in recent years, we are concerned that the installation of high-quality SuDS features delivering multiple environmental benefits may still be insufficiently incentivised. The evidence we have received clearly shows that the …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government highlights existing planning policy on SuDS and mentions an ongoing research project, but defers a commitment to ending the automatic right to connect to the public sewer or consulting on Schedule 3, stating these issues are being considered by the Storm Overflows Taskforce which will report in summer 2021.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
View Details →
31
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 125
The Government should explain how it will promote the retrofitting of SuDS and an integrated...
Recommendation
The Government should explain how it will promote the retrofitting of SuDS and an integrated approach to water management through measures such as rainwater harvesting.
Government Response Summary
The government details its commitment to an integrated approach to water management and highlights ongoing work, including a response to a consultation on water use, a £200m innovation programme to gather evidence on flood management (including SuDS), and a commissioned research project, deferring a clear explanation of how it will immediately promote retrofitting SuDS.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
View Details →