Water minister Richard Benyon has said the Government is “open to considering” a regulated asset model, similar to that of the UK water industry, to fund flood defences, in a Defra questions session in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Conservative MP for Warrington South David Mowat posed the question that because the regulated asset model had been a great driver of investment in the UK for water infrastructure projects, would this model be extended to the flood sector to bring in money for “badly needed flood defences”?
Mr Benyon replied that £108 billion of low-cost investment had benefited the water industry and he was aware that one or two water companies had proposed extending the model to flood defence.
However, he said: “We do not propose to bring it forward at this time, but we are always open to considering such matters.”
In the same session, Graham Evans MP asked Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was asked to comment on the effect of partnership funding on the provision of flood defences.
Paterson replied that the funding scheme was generally more successful than the one in place previously.
Paterson said: “Partnership funding is enabling more flood and coastal schemes to go ahead and giving local people more choice in how their community is protected. The approach has brought forward £72 million of external funding so far.
“This is likely to increase further, compared with the £13 million during the previous period. Early indications suggest that up to a third more schemes will go ahead in the coming years than if the previous funding system had remained.”
Sustainable drainage systems are urgent
Miss Anne McIntosh MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee outlined the prominence of surface water flooding since 2007 and said sustainable urban draining systems (SuDS) regulations “need to be adopted as a matter of urgency, as 2014 is simply unacceptable. I think the British public expect DEFRA to act as a matter of urgency.”
The implementation of SUDS is a provision in the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 and was expected to be introduced by the Government in April 2013. However, in a consultation earlier this year, industry experts said that SUDS should not be rushed and Government must make sure they are introduced properly.
Paterson said: “The question of the SUDS regulations is complicated, which is why we are intending to bring them in in 2014. I am happy to discuss that with my hon. Friend outside the Chamber.”
Incorporating flood defence into transport infrastructure
Recent flooding had a severe impact on transport links, notably the railway line between south-west England and London. Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon, asked Paterson if future investment in flood defence would take into account vital transport infrastructure.
Mr Paterson replied that as soon as he left Exeter after a visit to see damage to the railway line he had phoned the Transport Secretary to ensure the rail link was restored but did not fully answer the question.
"I totally endorse my honourable Friend's point about transport links and flooding," he said.
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