Agriculture - Sixth Report

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Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 30 July 1998.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

REPORT

I. INTRODUCTION


II. THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR FLOOD AND COASTAL DEFENCE IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Background

Organisational responsibilities: national strategy and local implementation

Financing arrangements




III. CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH FLOOD AND COASTAL DEFENCE POLICIES

Introduction

Funding of flood and coastal defence policy

Current system of MAFF funding, and the effects of recent expenditure cuts on the maintenance of flood and coastal defence works

Disbursal of funds by multiple agencies

Constraints on flood and coastal defence projects of current funding procedures

Project Appraisal Guidance Note (PAGN)

Fragmentation of policy responsibility

Overlapping roles and responsibilities of operating authorities, and resulting public confusion

National strategy, local level implementation

Institutional change

Lack of co-ordination between competent agencies; lack of integration between flood and coastal defence policies and the planning system

Implementation of coastal defence policies

Integrating flood defence requirements within the planning system

Departmental responsibility for flood and coastal defence

Conclusion

Social and environmental impacts of existing flood and coastal defence policies

Habitat creation

The Easter floods

Introduction

Causes and effects of the Easter floods

Difficulties in predicting flooding

Environment Agency's flood defence priorities

Availability of flood risk information

Interorganisational procedures and dissemination of flood warnings




IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

ANNEX: Glossary

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE REPORT

LIST OF WITNESSES

LIST OF MEMORANDA INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

LIST OF APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

UNPRINTED MEMORANDA

EVIDENCE (Published as Volume II)
Tuesday, 28 April 1998 - published as HC707-i
Tuesday, 12 May 1998 - published as HC707-ii
Tuesday, 9 June 1998 - published as HC707-iii
Wednesday, 17 June 1998 - published as HC707-iv
Wednesday, 8 July 1998 - published as HC707-v

APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

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Prepared 5 August 1998