To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on (a) capital expenditure and (b) expenditure on maintenance in relation to flood defence in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. (152881)

The figures reflect Environment Agency spend on flood risk management funded by DEFRA and exclude spend funded from other sources (e.g. levies on local authorities, beneficiary contributions, charges). Capital figures reflect spend on new and improved capital measures to reduce flood risk, including on flood warning infrastructure. Maintenance figures reflect spend on maintenance of existing assets. Other Flood Risk Management (FRM) spend covers the cost of delivering flood warning services, flood mapping, development control, data management such as the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database, regional flood defence committees and other associated costs such as investment in and provision of information systems (IS), accommodation and overheads.

The additional spend in 2005-06 was largely funded from financial balances. These had been held by Regional Flood Defence Committees to meet the cost of unforeseen events such as severe flooding, as at the time the Agency’s spend on flood risk management was largely funded from levies on local authorities. Since 2004, this spend has primarily been funded by DEFRA and such balances are no longer maintained.

The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk management in England. However, Government-funded works are also carried out by local authorities and, in areas with special drainage needs, internal drainage boards. The Agency incurs spend on other activities related to flood risk management such as operational costs, advising on plans for new development.