DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref:
87/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 21 April 2009
The draft Flood
and Water Management Bill, designed to improve how we prepare for
and respond to flood emergencies and better protect water supplies
during drought, has today been published for public consultation
by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.
Mr Benn is also officially opening the new Flood Forecasting
Centre, a partnership between the Environment Agency and the Met
Office, to improve the warnings that are issued about the risk of flooding.
The aims of the draft Bill are to:
* Reduce the likelihood and impacts of flooding;
* Improve our ability to manage the risk of flooding, by
clarifying who is responsible for what;
* Improve water quality;
* Give water companies better powers to conserve water during drought;
* Reduce red tape and other burdens on water and sewerage
companies; and
* Improve the overall efficiency and management of the industry; and
* Reduce pollution and improve water quality.
Mr Benn said:
"The terrible effects of the 2007 floods are still fresh in
our minds, and climate change will only increase the threat of
extreme weather in the future. We can't stop rain falling
from the sky, or make it rain during droughts, but we can be
better prepared.
"That's why we are publishing this draft Bill, which
will help us better protect the public by clearly defining the
roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in flood risk
management. The Bill is about changing the law where we need to.
"We've also been taking action to protect property and
prepare for emergencies, including setting up the Flood
Forecasting Centre, providing £15 million to local authorities to
lead flood management locally and develop surface water management
plans, a £5 million fund available to households for personal
flood protection and £2 million to improve water rescue, including
funding for rescue boats and trained personnel.
"The Environment Agency has continued its work to improve
flood defences and 433,000 people have signed up to direct flood
warning alerts, with 124,000 registering since 2007.
"The setting up of the new Flood Forecasting Centre, which
was a recommendation of Sir Michael Pitt's report into the
2007 floods, will help provide the best possible information and
support to existing flood warnings and weather warning services.
"By combining the knowledge and experience of the Met Office
and Environment Agency, we will see a big improvement in the
ability to produce earlier flood alerts and more accurate,
targeted information to our emergency services, local authorities
and utility companies.
"This will give people in areas at risk of flooding more
time to protect themselves and their homes and businesses from the
effects of flooding."
As well as improving the management of flood risk by clearly
defining roles and responsibilities for those involved in flood
risk management, the draft Bill also includes measure to better
protect the supply of water during drought.
Parts of England are already water stressed and the impacts of
both climate change and a rising population will increase demands
for more, or better, water and sewerage infrastructure, and mean
that the management of water as a precious resource must be improved.
Proposals in the draft Bill set out how the water industry will
be managed better to be able to cope with these challenges and
provide a better service to households and businesses.
Publication of the draft Flood and Water Management Bill follows
the Government response to Sir Michael Pitt's review of the
floods in Summer 2007. In its response the Government undertook to
act on all 92 recommendations of that Review.
Notes to editors
1. The draft Flood and Water Management Bill consultation
documents can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floodsandwaterbill.htm.
The consultation will be open until 24 July.
2. The Government's response to the Pitt Review can be found
at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floods07.htm.
3. Defra has provided £5 million funding for the Flood
Forecasting Centre, operated by the Met Office and Environment
Agency, and covers England and Wales.
4. The new £10.4 million centre is operational 24 hours a day,
365 days a year, and is based in Farringdon, London, and employs a
team totalling 26, including hydrologists, weather forecasters and
support staff.
5. The Environment Agency has overall strategic responsibility
for flood management.
6. Members of the public can sign up to the Environment
Agency's free flood warning service by calling 0845 988 1188
or visiting http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
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