Strategic flood risk management: Chair's statement
5 November 2014
A statement from The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts:
I am deeply concerned that current levels of spending are not enough to maintain flood protection, with 5 million homes at risk of flooding and people’s livelihoods in jeopardy. It is alarming that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has cut spending on flood protection by 10% between 2011-12 and 2014-15 and it had to react with an emergency bailout of £270 million following the winter floods in 2013. Surely this short-term reactive approach is not value for money in the long-term.
It is extraordinary that after cutting maintenance for half (1,356) of its flood protection assets to the bare minimum, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not let communities know their local risk of flooding. Some communities do not know who is in charge and who to contact during a flood, but who would not be confused when nearly 300 organisations all have their own plans and strategies for dealing with flooding?
I look forward to hearing how the Department plans to achieve value for money for communities in the long-term when it appears before my Committee on 24 November.