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/7149495.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'No improvement' in flood defence 'No improvement' in flood defence
(30 minutes later)
Some flood defences in England are in a poor condition despite the Environment Agency receiving 40% more funding over five years, MPs have said.Some flood defences in England are in a poor condition despite the Environment Agency receiving 40% more funding over five years, MPs have said.
The Public Accounts Committee said the severe summer flooding showed the "vulnerability" of key infrastructure.The Public Accounts Committee said the severe summer flooding showed the "vulnerability" of key infrastructure.
The committee said flood defences had "not improved markedly."The committee said flood defences had "not improved markedly."
Chief executive of the Environment Agency Baroness Barbara Young defended its spending, saying: "We use our limited funding wisely." Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young defended its spending, which was £483m in 2006-07, saying: "We use our limited funding wisely."
The MPs' report is the latest to consider the summer flooding, with a preliminary report from the independent review concluding that the public and local authorities should have been better prepared.The MPs' report is the latest to consider the summer flooding, with a preliminary report from the independent review concluding that the public and local authorities should have been better prepared.
Despite facing some of the biggest downpours ever recorded, 99.8% of our flood defences performed as they were built to do Barbara YoungEnvironment AgencyDespite facing some of the biggest downpours ever recorded, 99.8% of our flood defences performed as they were built to do Barbara YoungEnvironment Agency
In the committee report, entitled Environment Agency: Building and maintaining river and coastal flood defences in England, MPs said that in 2007-08 only 33 new defence schemes are expected to start, with 84% of funds spent on existing schemes.In the committee report, entitled Environment Agency: Building and maintaining river and coastal flood defences in England, MPs said that in 2007-08 only 33 new defence schemes are expected to start, with 84% of funds spent on existing schemes.
"Despite an increase in funding from £303 million in 2001-02 to £550 million in 2005-06, spending fell to £483 million in 2006-07 (an increase in real terms of some 40% in five years), the state of flood defences in England has not improved markedly," the committee said."Despite an increase in funding from £303 million in 2001-02 to £550 million in 2005-06, spending fell to £483 million in 2006-07 (an increase in real terms of some 40% in five years), the state of flood defences in England has not improved markedly," the committee said.
READ THE FULL REPORT Environment Agency: Building and maintaining river and coastal flood defences [1.2MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE FULL REPORT Environment Agency: Building and maintaining river and coastal flood defences [1.2MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
Committee chairman Edward Leigh said: "No system of flood defences can provide 100% protection against flooding.Committee chairman Edward Leigh said: "No system of flood defences can provide 100% protection against flooding.
"But that's far from saying we should be content with defences whose condition is not the best possible.""But that's far from saying we should be content with defences whose condition is not the best possible."
He added that "over half of the high risk systems, such as those protecting urban areas, are in a condition below the official target and some defences are in a poor condition".He added that "over half of the high risk systems, such as those protecting urban areas, are in a condition below the official target and some defences are in a poor condition".
He questioned whether funding for flood risk management, announced by the Department for Food and Rural Affairs to bring it up to £800m by 2010, "will be spent to best effect".He questioned whether funding for flood risk management, announced by the Department for Food and Rural Affairs to bring it up to £800m by 2010, "will be spent to best effect".
'Thousands protected''Thousands protected'
Baroness Young said that as the committee report was based on a National Audit Office report from a year ago, "substantial progress had been made".Baroness Young said that as the committee report was based on a National Audit Office report from a year ago, "substantial progress had been made".
"In England last year we spent £377 million building and maintaining flood defences as well as raising public awareness through greatly improved flood mapping and warning systems."In England last year we spent £377 million building and maintaining flood defences as well as raising public awareness through greatly improved flood mapping and warning systems.
"Since April 2003, 325,000 people in 129,000 homes are protected by improved flood defences," she said."Since April 2003, 325,000 people in 129,000 homes are protected by improved flood defences," she said.
Progress had also been made on national flood coastal defence database.Progress had also been made on national flood coastal defence database.
"Our systems and defences were tested to the limit this summer by the floods that affected many parts of the country. "Despite facing some of the biggest downpours ever recorded, 99.8% of our flood defences performed as they were built to do," Baroness Young said."Our systems and defences were tested to the limit this summer by the floods that affected many parts of the country. "Despite facing some of the biggest downpours ever recorded, 99.8% of our flood defences performed as they were built to do," Baroness Young said.