asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury on 27 April, Official Report, column 24, about the raising of the Thames barrier, he will indicate what the flooding risk to London was on Sunday 29 March; and what assessment he made of the risk involved in not raising the barrier.

Day-to-day assessment of the risk of flooding in London and consequent operational decisions are matters for the Thames water authority. I have previously listed for the hon. Member on 27 April at column 24 the climatic and tidal factors that led to the prediction that the noon high tide on 29 March would reach a level against which it would be prudent to have the protection of the barrier in place.