Recommendation 1

HM Government Not Addressed

Sixth Special Report of Session 2024–26 HC 1591 Environmental Audit Committee The Environmental Audit Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to consider to what extent the policies and programmes of government departments and non-departmental public bodies contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development; to audit their performance against such targets as may be set for them by His Majesty’s Ministers; and to report thereon to the House. Current membership Mr Toby Perkins (Labour; Chesterfield) (Chair) Olivia Blake (Labour; Sheffield Hallam) Julia Buckley (Labour; Shrewsbury) Jonathan Davies (Labour; Mid Derbyshire) Carla Denyer (Green Party; Bristol Central) Barry Gardiner (Labour; Brent West) Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat; Chippenham) Alison Griffiths (Conservative; Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) Chris Hinchliff (Labour; North East Hertfordshire) Alison Hume (Labour; Scarborough and Whitby) Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat; Stratford-on-Avon) Martin Rhodes (Labour; Glasgow North) Dr Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat; South Cotswolds) Blake Stephenson (Conservative; Mid Bedfordshire) John Whitby (Labour; Derbyshire Dales) Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party; East Antrim) Powers The constitution and powers are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152A. These are available on the internet via www.parliament.uk. Publication This Report was Ordered by the House of Commons, on 17 December 2025, to be printed. It was published on 23 December 2025 by authority of the House of Commons. © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2025. This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament Licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/copyright. Committee Reports are published on the Committee’s website at www.parliament.uk/eacom and in print by Order of the House. Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Environmental Audit Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 8890; the Committee’s email address is eacom@parliament.uk. You can follow the Committee on X (formerly Twitter) using @CommonsEAC, and on Bluesky using @commonsEAC.parliament.uk. Sixth Special Report The Environmental Audit Committee published its Fourth Report of Session 2024–26, Flood resilience in England (HC 550), on 13 October 2025. The Government Response was received on 12 December 2025 and is appended below. Appendix: Government Response Introduction The government has considered the report by the Environmental Audit Committee carefully. We share the view of the committee on the importance of flood resilience. Over the last year, the government has made significant progress by committing record investment in flood and coastal erosion defences and introducing the most significant change in flood and coastal erosion funding policy for nearly fifteen years. The major reforms to flood funding policy, announced in October, will make it quicker and easier to deliver the right defences in the right places. This new approach allows the Environment Agency to respond to both current and future flood risk. It will prioritise funding towards deprived communities and sees greater investment in existing defences to improve their condition, as well as in natural flood management. The government set up a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood preparedness. In the last year the taskforce has: • assessed the national and local response to autumn and winter flooding, following one of the wettest years on record • supported improvements in flood modelling and development of the Environment Agency’s new flood warning service • exercised national coordination arrangements • raised awareness of flood recovery schemes • established three member-led action groups on flood warnings, flood recovery, and flood insurance, building long-term momentum on these critical issues, plus a subgroup on maintenance. Despite a challenging fiscal context, the government recognises the need to invest in the long term which is why at least £10.5 billion will be invested up to 2036, delivering the largest flood and coastal investment programme in England’s history. Communities across every region of England will benefit. Strengthening the national framework for flood resilience Recommendation at paragraph 16: ‘Flood resilience must be embedded in statute as a clear responsibility, not left as a discretionary ambition. The government should bring forward proposals to amend the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to establish a duty for all relevant authorities to act in accordance with a strengthened Flood and Coastal Erosion Management Strategy, which must clearly define what ‘good’ flood resilience looks like and embed a long-term framework that transcends electoral cycles, ensuring shared responsibility at all levels. • Risk Management Authorities, including Lead Local Flood Authoriti