Memorandum submitted by Chris Huhne MP
(FL MP 05)
I am writing in response to the letter from
your chairman Michael Jack MP of 24th July, and your timely examination
of flooding. My constituency has thankfully not been affected,
but I visited Hull and Oxford at different times to see the problems
for myself as part of my portfolio responsibilities.
I think the key issues are
(a) coordination of flood defences, prevention
and warning across all the current agencies and particularly the
failure of the government to deliver on its response to the Making
Space for Water consultation of March 2005 concerning the overarching
strategic role for the Environment Agency;
(b) consistency of investment across the
agencies including water companies and OFWAT on surface water
drainage issues with many different risk factors being taken into
account (one in thirty years events for sewerage and drains, one
in a hundred for river defences);
(c) government budgets both capital and current
and the extent to which sensible investment projects are being
delayed;
(d) proofing of key infrastructure against
flooding notably national grid switching stations, water treatment
plants and pumping stations; and
(e) the change in risk assessments due to
climate change.
Chris Huhne MP
Eastleigh
August 2007
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