To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the adequacy of the budgets for flood defences; and if he will make a statement. (151148)

1 refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the Secretary of State on 2 July 2007, Official Report, column 689, in which he stated the Government have always recognised the need to spend more on flood defence because of changes in climate. DEFRA and local authority spend on flood and coastal erosion risk management has increased from £307 million in 1996-97 to £600 million this year and will increase further to £800 million in 2010-11.