Around 170,000 properties in Wales are at risk from flooding. Flood and coastal risk management is a devolved function. I understand that current policy in Wales is to reduce flood and coastal erosion risk to people, property and natural environment by encouraging the provision of defences and flood warnings, and discouraging inappropriate development in areas at risk. I also understand that Welsh Ministers are currently implementing new flood risk management arrangements to enable improved responses to the increased risk presented by climate change.
Work carried out by the Environment Agency and Welsh local authorities to manage these risks is supported financially by the Welsh Assembly Government, who have increased their funding for flood and coastal defence this year to over £30 million.