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26 Nov 2008 :
Flood Control
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in the development of catchment flood management plans; and if he will make a statement. [235059]
Jane Kennedy: The Environment Agency has completed 55 Catchment Flood Management Plans in England. The remaining 13 plans are due to be completed by the end of December 2008.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress has been made on implementing the recommendations contained in the Pitt report on flooding; and if he will make a statement. [239600]
Jane Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, columns 489-521, on the Pre-Budget Report, how much of the capital spending amount will be spent on flood defences; when the funding will be available; what type of projects it will be spent on; whether any of the funding in question has already been announced; and if he will make a statement. [239983]
Jane Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Flooding Lessons Learned Review
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions with local authorities have taken place on the Pitt review on flooding. [237664]
Jane Kennedy
[holding answer 20 November 2008]: The Pitt review proposed
significant strengthening of the role of local authorities for flood
risk management,
including from surface water and groundwater where no one organisation
currently takes the lead. In developing the Government response to those
proposals, and other recommendations in the review, DEFRA officials have
held regular meetings with the Local Government Association and council
officers as well as attending conferences and similar events involving
local authorities.
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken in response to the Pitt review on flooding. [237665]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 20 November 2008]: We have already taken a number of steps in response to Sir Michael Pitt's findings and will be publishing a detailed response together with a prioritised action plan shortly.
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department intends to publish its detailed response to the Pitt review on flooding. [237666]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 20 November 2008]: Government's detailed response to the Pitt review will be published shortly.
Floods: Property Development
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had on building on flood plains. [237663]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 20 November 2008]: DEFRA has had a strong input in several key areas of the Department for Communities and Local Government's work, including Planning Policy Statement 25 on development and flood risk, and other changes to planning policy. Changes we have introduced include making the Environment Agency statutory consultees for all planning applications in flood risk areas, and that planning applications which the local planning authority are minded to approve against Environment Agency advice can be called-in for determination by the Secretary of State.
Food: Retail Sector
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department is conducting into the effects of farmers' markets on producers and consumers. [239532]
Jane Kennedy: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Forests
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what proportion of planted ancient woodland sites managed by Forest Enterprise under a clear-fell regime are (a) scheduled for and (b) in the process of restoration, broken down by forest district; [237685]
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