Defra has delayed the publication of responses to a major consultation on proposals for the implementation of a national affordable flood insurance scheme.

The consultation by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on the regulations for the Flood Reinsurance Scheme, known as Flood Re, ran from 22 July 2014 to16 September 2014.

Defra has now announced that due to the complex nature of the regulations, the summary of responses will not be published within the expected time, commenting:

“The draft regulations considered by this consultation are complex and technical in nature and we continue to discuss a number of practical issues with the insurance industry.”

“We are considering the responses received to the consultation alongside these discussions and will publish the government response to the consultation shortly.”

Defra had sought views on the regulations being made to allow the insurance industry to implement the flood reinsurance scheme - particularly from groups and individuals at risk of flooding and from the insurance industry and property and mortgage sector.

Flood Re is intended to help make flood insurance affordable for households at flood risk in the UK. Part 4 of the Water Act 2014 sets the broad scope of the regulations and how Flood Re will operate.