1 Introduction
1. Record-breaking rainfall this year and last
has led to a series of flood events which have had major impacts
on many communities across the UK.[1]
The frequency and severity of such flood events are predicted
to increase in future years.[2]
In December 2012, we announced an inquiry into the effectiveness
of the Government's flood risk management policies. We received
18 written submissions and held five oral evidence sessions in
February and March 2013. We are grateful to all who contributed
to this inquiry.
2. This report is a follow-up to a number of
previous reports on flooding, in particular our 2010 report Future
Flood and Water Management Legislation and our Draft Water
Bill report published in February. Further background can
be found in these reports on a number of issues addressed below,
such as organisational arrangements for managing flood risk and
legislative measures in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
1 2012 was the UK's second wettest year on record according
to the Met Office. See http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/archive/2013/2012-weather-statistics Back
2
Environment Agency, Managing the environment in a changing
climate, November 2010, see for example p 5 Back
| 
