Flooding
Questions
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether collaborative agreements between the Environment Agency (EA) and non-commercial researchers on the use of flood plain data relating to flooding in Cumbria will be drawn up to exclude EA restrictions on the use of modelling methods and software. [HL3398]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Environment Agency will reconsider their policy restricting the use of flood mapping modelling methods and software in relation to non-commercial interests researching flood plain mapping.[HL3399]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): Under the National Infrastructure Plan, published by Her Majesty's Treasury last month, the Government will encourage greater investment in flood resilience by making information on levels of flood risk more available and accessible to all.
Non-commercial interests researching floodplain mapping are not restricted from using Environment Agency-owned modelling inputs or outputs. Modelling that the Environment Agency does not own, or does not have the appropriate third-party intellectual property rights to share, may be restricted. The Environment Agency does not own floodplain mapping software-it is licensed from software companies and these licences do not allow it to be passed to others.
Asked by Lord Greaves
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions have taken place with the insurance industry to ensure that affordable insurance will be provided to homes and businesses in flood risk areas beyond 2013; and what progress has been made in providing such insurance.[HL3441]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): Defra had discussions with key representatives from the insurance industry, the National Flood Forum, the Environment Agency and local government at the recent Flood Insurance Summit. We agreed to continue working in partnership to ensure insurance remains widely available beyond 2013, when the current Statement of Principles agreement expires.