The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has said that no compensation is available for farmers on Somerset levels affected by flooding.
Defra confirmed the policy in a letter dated 6 February in response to Freedom of Information request received on 3rd January under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 for information about the amount of compensation Defra has allocated for farmers involved in the Somerset levels floods.
The letter, which says that there is no Government scheme to compensate for uninsured losses due to flooding for farmers or other businesses and individuals, states:
“It is the long-standing policy of successive governments that compensation is not paid for losses due to coastal erosion or damage caused by flooding. This is because, except in very limited circumstance, no-one has a right to flood or erosion defences or, if defences are provided; there is no legal requirement to provide any particular standard of defence.“
The Defra response also explains that the Environment Agency has spent £400,000 to date on the pumping operation in the Levels, including fuel, electric pumps, additional pump hire, and additional manpower costs.
It now remains to be seen whether the Government changes its position on the issue. It has already announced changes on flood defence funding, including the Bellwin Scheme. The Chairman of the Environment Agency has also said this morning that that cost benefit rules laid down by the Treasury setting out how much could be spent on any individual flood defence scheme will not apply for the Somerset Levels.
Last week the Prime Minister told the House of Commons that the Government would do whatever was required -whether it is dredging on the Rivers Tone and Parrett, support for emergency services, fresh money for flood defences, or action across the board to “get this issue sorted. “
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