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Flood Control: Standards

Asked by Leigh InghamLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 9 July 2026UIN 900901

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers her Department has to hold local authorities accountable for their performance in maintaining flood defences.

Answered by Emma Hardy

The Hon Member is right to raise this important issue and I know from visiting her constituency the impact of flooding on her local community.

It is essential that local authorities maintain their flood defences as part of their statutory flood risk management duties, even if that council does not believe in climate change.

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