This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7786987.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New measures to tackle flooding | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Local authorities will be expected to play a key role in flood prevention in the future, ministers will say later. | Local authorities will be expected to play a key role in flood prevention in the future, ministers will say later. |
| They are expected to announce extra funding for councils to deal with surface water flooding caused by heavy rain overwhelming drainage systems. | They are expected to announce extra funding for councils to deal with surface water flooding caused by heavy rain overwhelming drainage systems. |
| A series of measures, predominantly affecting England, aim to prepare for the increased risk of floods. | |
| A report into last summer's devastating floods sought "urgent and fundamental changes" to deal with the problem. | |
| Its author, Sir Michael Pitt, was highly critical of national preparedness for severe flooding after the 2007 deluge which left 13 people dead and 44,600 homes flooded. | |
| Yorkshire and the Midlands were among the worst-hit, and the Humber and south-west England were also severely affected. | Yorkshire and the Midlands were among the worst-hit, and the Humber and south-west England were also severely affected. |
| Of about 17,000 families forced from their homes in England, about 1,000 were still living upstairs or in temporary accommodation earlier this month. | |
| Clean-up costs | Clean-up costs |
| Sir Michael's report called on the government to set out publicly how it would make rapid progress on improving flood resilience. | |
| Under the plans, to be announced on Wednesday, six local authorities will be given funding and responsibility for dealing with surface water. | Under the plans, to be announced on Wednesday, six local authorities will be given funding and responsibility for dealing with surface water. |
| We all need to face up to flood risk as climate change will dramatically increase the number of homes affected Paul Leinster, Environment Agency | |
| They will have to co-ordinate their actions with the emergency services, the Environment Agency and other bodies. | They will have to co-ordinate their actions with the emergency services, the Environment Agency and other bodies. |
| One of Sir Michael's main recommendations was greater clarity as to who does what during heavy flooding. | One of Sir Michael's main recommendations was greater clarity as to who does what during heavy flooding. |
| Ministers are also expected to reveal plans for a new national centre for flood forecasting. | Ministers are also expected to reveal plans for a new national centre for flood forecasting. |
| Climate change | Climate change |
| The Environment Agency said the annual clean-up cost of flooding was currently about £1.1bn, but was rising. | |
| Paul Leinster, the agency's chief executive, said: "We all need to face up to flood risk as climate change will dramatically increase the number of homes affected." | Paul Leinster, the agency's chief executive, said: "We all need to face up to flood risk as climate change will dramatically increase the number of homes affected." |
| Its latest poll showed only 9% of 1,033 people living in flood-risk areas knew how to stay safe during flooding. | Its latest poll showed only 9% of 1,033 people living in flood-risk areas knew how to stay safe during flooding. |
| It also found even fewer - only 3% - had prepared a flood kit of essential items such as insurance documents, a torch, bottled water and warm clothes |