Statement on Storm Henk
Floods Minister Robbie Moore gives an oral statement to the House on Storm Henk.
The heavy rainfall following Storm Henk has affected communities across the UK, with the worst impacts being seen widespread in the Midlands including Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire, and in parts of the West Country, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire – and indeed other areas. Parts of the country have had a month’s worth of rain in the last four days of January, and of course, this rain falls on already saturated ground. Several of our biggest river systems – the Trent, the Thames, the Severn, and Avon – saw record, or close to record levels as they drained huge volumes of rain from across their river catchments.
In the last few days, I have seen first-hand the devastating impacts flooding can have on local communities. I have just returned from Alney Island in Gloucester this morning, which saw the third highest water levels in the last 100 years and last week, I visited Nottinghamshire, meeting with residents in Colwick with my honourable friend for Gedling, and I spoke with residents in Radcliffe on Trent with my honourable friend for Rushcliffe where unfortunately residents had to be evacuated to keep them safe. My thoughts are of course with all who have been impacted.
Over the weekend, the Secretary of State visited flooded areas and flooded communities in Newark on Trent and Leicestershire. Together, we met farmers in Lincolnshire to see first-hand the impacts of flooding in their area. We discussed what more could be done to support agricultural businesses to prevent flooding and minimise the impacts of flooding in the future. I also met with Henry Ward at Short Ferry, whose farm has been completely submerged under water, we discussed just how devastating the financial impact can be. I also visited a primary school in Heighington, just south of Lincoln that had been completely flooded, where together with the headteacher, the Environment Agency, Cllr Carrington and my honourable friend for Sleaford and North Hykeham, we discussed next steps to get the school re-opened and get children back into their own classroom.
The Prime Minister was in Oxford yesterday talking to those affected and to thank the first responders for the fantastic job that they have been doing over the past week to help keep communities safe. And I want to echo those thanks – to the Environment Agency, to the emergency responders, local authorities, our Internal Drainage Boards and all volunteers – for their tireless efforts to keep our communities safe right across the country.
This was a severe weather incident. Storm Henk brought high winds with large amounts of rain across England last Wednesday. Met Office Amber and Yellow warnings were in place across the country. This was followed by heavy rainfall on already saturated ground, after a wetter than average autumn. There is now an improving picture across the country, but as we enter a dry spell existing flood warnings always still remain in place and we continue to monitor the situation very closely.
Since 2010, the government has invested over £6 billion to better protect over 600,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion. More than 75,000 properties have been protected as a result of the government’s investment in flood defences over recent days. To date, unfortunately 2,000 properties have been flooded and have been recorded as that across the country. In the East Midlands, a major incident was declared in Trent in Colwick peaked at over five metres. In Leicestershire, 350 properties were flooded, including in Loughborough. In Lincolnshire, river levels exceeded the year 2000 record level on the Trent at Torksey lock. And in Staffordshire, we saw the highest ever recorded water levels in Burton-on-Trent – and here, the flood defences completed in June 2022 protected hundreds of properties.
The government began planning for an elevated flood risk as soon as the Met Office forecast indicated an unsettled period of weather over Christmas and the New Year. The Environment Agency started planning and preparing in the week before Christmas. River channels and trash screens were cleared to prepare watercourses for flooding, as well as continued work to repair assets following the damage from Storm Babet. Environment Agency incident teams were double rostered, with the National Duty Manager leading regular planning and preparedness calls with all areas. And the Environment Agency wrote to all Members of Parliament in England providing local contacts and information for use in the event of a flood.
Over the course of last week, the Environment Agency issued 300 flood warnings to communities. It deployed over 1,000 of its staff to affected communities, set up 125 pumps, and put up over 12 kilometres of temporary and semi-permanent defences in place to protect communities. It worked closely with Local Resilience Forums to manage the impacts on the ground. My department has been holding daily cross-government meetings to ensure that we are doing everything that we can to minimise the impacts on our communities.
Over the weekend, the government took swift action, activating the Flood Recovery Framework, earlier than usual to give people the reassurance that we will step in. This support that we will provide will provide immediate financial relief to householders, businesses and farmers affected by flooding.
Officials at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities wrote to the Chief Executives of the eight County Councils who will be eligible based on the data we have on the impacts so far – and they are Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, West Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Worcestershire. Others may well qualify, and we are monitoring the situation closely.
This will mean that flooded households in eligible affected areas can apply for up to £500 to give them quick access to help them with immediate costs. Also, households and businesses which are affected will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rate tax relief for at least three months. Eligible flood-hit property owners can apply for up to £5000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding through the Property Fund Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.
And my department switched on the Farming Recovery Fund so farmers who have suffered uninsurable damage to their land can apply for grants of up to £25,000 – recognising the exceptional rainfall that has taken place. And small and medium sized businesses, including farmers, can also apply for up to £2,500 of support from the Business Recovery Grant to help them return their businesses back to usual.
The government’s UK-wide Flood Re scheme will continue to provide reinsurance for those UK households at high flood risk. Last year, it was reported that that cover supported 265,000 household policies and more than 500,000 properties have benefitted since the scheme’s launch.
Outside of the immediate response, the government continues to take action to protect communities from flooding. Since 2010, we have invested over £6 billion to better protect over 600,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion. And we are on track to spend a record £5.2 billion on new flood defence schemes in the current six-year period. This is double the spend in the previous six years. It includes £100 million to support communities that have experienced repeated flooding, and last April, the first 53 projects are set to benefit. We have made £25 million available for innovative projects that use the power of nature to improve flood protection, including actions by farmers and land managers – and I will announce successful projects shortly.
We are investing more in maintaining existing flood defences, to help ensure that they are kept in good working order. The government increased funding by £22 million per year at the last spending review, meaning funding reached £201 million last year and £221 million this year.
The government strengthened planning guidance on flood risk and coastal change in 2022. This asks local authorities to apply stricter criteria to new developments at risk of flooding before they are approved. In the year following this change, 99% of proposed developments complied with Environment Agency advice on flood risk.
And in conclusion Mr Deputy Speaker, working with local partners we have acted swiftly to respond to recent flooding and provide funding support for the most affected. We will continue to lead the emergency response to flood incidents as they occur. At the same time, we will invest for the long term, to create a nation better protected against our changing climate. I commend this statement to the House.