Tag: flooding

Bishop of St Albans leads debate on support and compensation for farmers

The Bishop of St Albans led a debate on support and compensation for farmers affected by flooding on 10th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure farmers are supported and recompensed for their role in flood prevention.

My Lords, I am grateful to all Members of your Lordships’ House who have signed up for this topical debate, giving us a few minutes to explore the extraordinary challenges that flooding is causing for our farming community.

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Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asks about funding for coastal erosion and flood defences

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asked a question on the disparity in funding between managing flood risks and coastal erosion on during a discussion on the adequacy of Environment Agency expenditure on flood defences on 20th February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich: My Lords, I thought my question was going to be off the point. One of the issues raised frequently with me by those managing the coastline in Suffolk is the disparity between flooding risks, for which the Environment Agency takes responsibility, and coastal erosion, which is managed by local authorities. What assessment have the Government made of the disparity of funding for these two vital activities?

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Bishop of Sheffield asks about combatting flood damage caused by climate change

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 4th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the damage caused by flooding following (1) Storm Babet, and (2) Storm Ciarán; and what steps they are taking to combat the increase in the frequency and severity of flooding caused by climate change.

Lord Benyon (Con, DEFRA): The Government acknowledges the devastating impact Storm Babet and Storm Ciarán have had on householders and businesses and sympathises with those affected.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about use of farmland as flood defences

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about the use of farmland as flood defences, and the need for compensation for farmers, on 30th November 2023, following a discussion on maintenance of flood defences in England:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, more than half of Britain’s best farmland is on flood plains. Farmers are providing a public service by protecting towns and cities from flooding, but this means that they incur costs. What are His Majesty’s Government doing to ensure that farmers are adequately recompensed for this public service that they provide for our nation?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about floods in Libya

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 17th October 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked what representations they have made to the government of Libya concerning the recent floods in that country; and what emergency provision they will be providing to them.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, Foreign Office): The UK is horrified by the scale of flooding in eastern Libya following Storm Daniel and is committed to working with partners to deliver aid in support of the Libyan people.

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Bishop of Durham asks about recent floods in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 5th June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent flooding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda; and what humanitarian and financial support they are providing in response.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about management of surplus water and flood risks

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 22nd February 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that farmers involved in the Environmental Land Management Scheme are adequately compensated for the impact of introducing nature-based solutions on future flood risk on their land.

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Bishop of Worcester pays tribute to emergency services responding to floods

On 25th February 2020 Lord Greaves asked the Government “what steps they are taking to compensate households and local businesses that have been affected by flooding caused by recent storms and heavy rainfall.” The Bishop of Worcester, Rt Revd John Inge, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, Worcestershire has been as badly affected as anywhere in England by the recent floods and the river level is still rising in Worcester. At the same time, I have to observe that a great deal of work has been done since 2007, which has meant the damage has been much less than would otherwise have been the case. I support the call for swift and full compensation. At the same time, I pay tribute to the emergency services, which have been superb during these floods. Will the Minister join me in paying tribute to them?

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Bishop of St Albans suggests irresponsible developers should be liable for costs of flood damage

St Albans 2On 8th November 2016, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether flood defences are in place to protect vital infrastructure this winter.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: The Minister has already referred to the EFRA Select Committee report, Future Flood Prevention. One of its recommendations is the imposition on developers of a statutory liability for the cost of floods where those developments have not complied with planning regulations or the local planning situation, thereby causing additional flooding. Does the Minister agree with this eminently sensible suggestion, and will Her Majesty’s Government adopt it? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans suggests irresponsible developers should be liable for costs of flood damage”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about housebuilding in flood areas

StAlbans171115On the 10th February 2016 the Bishop of St Albans received two written answers about housing and flooding.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many new housing developments were built in the period 2010 to 2015 against advice given by the Environment Agency. [HL5516] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about housebuilding in flood areas”