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More flood defence spending in England and Wales urged | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Flood defence spending is still not high enough in England and Wales to combat the risk of water invading people's homes, MPs have said. | |
The amount spent on defences should rise by £20m year on year over the next 25 years, the committee of MPs said. | |
It said spending was not "keeping pace" with the risk of more severe weather. | It said spending was not "keeping pace" with the risk of more severe weather. |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that from 2015 it would spend £370m on new UK-wide defences, rising to over £400m in 2021. | |
Ministers have also reached an agreement with the Association of British Insurers guaranteeing affordable flood insurance for people in high-risk areas. | Ministers have also reached an agreement with the Association of British Insurers guaranteeing affordable flood insurance for people in high-risk areas. |
But MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs committee (Efra) said ministers should be attracting much more private funding into defences. | |
They warned that there was a risk to food production because farmland was not properly protected from rising waters. | They warned that there was a risk to food production because farmland was not properly protected from rising waters. |
And they complained it was short-sighted to keep up spending on building new flood defences while allowing maintenance spending for flood defences and watercourses to fall. | And they complained it was short-sighted to keep up spending on building new flood defences while allowing maintenance spending for flood defences and watercourses to fall. |
Chairwoman Anne McIntosh said: "Record rainfall in the past two years has led to extensive flooding, cost the economy millions and caused disruption and distress to householders and communities across the UK. | Chairwoman Anne McIntosh said: "Record rainfall in the past two years has led to extensive flooding, cost the economy millions and caused disruption and distress to householders and communities across the UK. |
"Additional capital funding for flood defences is welcome since every £1 spent on flood defences delivers economic benefits worth £8. | "Additional capital funding for flood defences is welcome since every £1 spent on flood defences delivers economic benefits worth £8. |
"But spending on flood defences has not kept pace with rising risks from more frequent severe weather. | "But spending on flood defences has not kept pace with rising risks from more frequent severe weather. |
"The chancellor must ensure that investment increases by £20m year on year. We need that money over the next 25 years to protect homes and businesses better. Maintenance of these defences and effective dredging of watercourses must be a priority." | "The chancellor must ensure that investment increases by £20m year on year. We need that money over the next 25 years to protect homes and businesses better. Maintenance of these defences and effective dredging of watercourses must be a priority." |
The committee has also warned that home insurance premiums for all households could go up to subsidise the insurance costs of those who live in flood-risk areas. | The committee has also warned that home insurance premiums for all households could go up to subsidise the insurance costs of those who live in flood-risk areas. |
Last week, the government said it had reached the principles of a deal with the insurance industry to cap the amount which most flood-risk householders would be charged for a home insurance policy. | Last week, the government said it had reached the principles of a deal with the insurance industry to cap the amount which most flood-risk householders would be charged for a home insurance policy. |
But the committee said current estimates suggested that, on average, that would add about £10.50 a year to each customer's bill. | |
Ms McIntosh told BBC News: "We were told it would be in the region of £3 for contents insurance, £5 for building insurance - but that has already gone up from £8 to £10.50 and our concern is that, over the next two years, that might rise further." | Ms McIntosh told BBC News: "We were told it would be in the region of £3 for contents insurance, £5 for building insurance - but that has already gone up from £8 to £10.50 and our concern is that, over the next two years, that might rise further." |
A Defra spokeswoman said: "Flooding is terrible for those affected, which is why we're working on long-term projects to protect people's homes and businesses." | A Defra spokeswoman said: "Flooding is terrible for those affected, which is why we're working on long-term projects to protect people's homes and businesses." |
Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin | Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin |