To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account is taken of land deemed unsafe to build on due to flooding risk within a larger development plot when calculating planned housing and population densities; and if she will make a statement. (150781)

[holding answer 19 July 2007]: Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 3 “Housing” requires local planning authorities to identify specific sites which will deliver their housing numbers. In assessing what sites are suitable for inclusion in their plans, local planning authorities will need to consider PPS 25 “Development and Flood Risk” which ensures that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and to direct development away from areas at highest risk. Sites which do not meet the requirements of PPS3 and PPS25 should not be considered as suitable for housing use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will prepare and publish a guidance plan for householders on the action to take in the event of flooding covering (a) the use of sandbags, (b) the use of skips and (c) insurance. (152878)

There is already a range of guidance available for householders on the action to take in the event of flooding.

For example, the guide “Preparing for floods” is available from the Planning Portal (www.planningportal.gov.uk) and provides guidance to property owners on how they can improve the flood resistance of their properties. It is also intended for use by developers, local planning authorities and others involved in construction of new buildings, and renovation of existing buildings, at risk of flooding.

The Environment Agency has also produced specific guidance on the use of sandbags with the Local Government Association. However in many cases there are better solutions for protecting domestic properties than sandbags such as floodboards and airbrick covers. Guidance on preparing for flooding and flood protection products is available on the Environment Agency's website

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood.

Following the recent floods we have been working closely with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and have sent out information to flood affected local authorities on where people can go for free independent advice on insurance matters. Further information is also available on the ABI website (www.abi.org.uk/floodinfo) and the Financial Services Authority website

www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk.

Looking to the future, on 12 July 2007 the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced a review to look at how the recent floods were managed and responded to by the Environment Agency, local authorities, the emergency services and others. One of the specific objectives of the review will be

“to ensure the public has as much access as possible to information on the risk of flooding to allow them to take appropriate precautions, be adequately informed on developments as an emergency unfolds, and be looked after properly in the immediate aftermath.”

We would expect that proposals on guidance plans for householders in the event of flooding will be considered as part of the review. We aim to publish the initial findings of the review by the end of the year and subsequently a formal Government report.