To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the current and proposed budget of the Environment Agency with regard to planned expenditure in (a) capital and (b) revenue schemes. (183047)

The Environment Agency budget for flood risk management in England in 2007-08 is £265 million revenue and £192 million capital. This is funded largely by direct grant in aid from DEFRA and by precepts on internal drainage boards, beneficiary contributions and other miscellaneous income. Additionally some 26 million will be raised and spent locally through Regional Flood Defence Committee levies on local authorities.

DEFRA grant to all operating authorities for flood and coastal erosion risk management in 2008-09 will be £559 million. This comprises £251 million for Environment Agency revenue expenditure and £308 million capital to be divided between the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards. The capital budget has yet to be allocated to individual projects by the agency and it is not possible therefore to say how much will be spent on agency projects. These figures do not include agency income from other sources, but local levies are planned to raise a further £27 million in 2008-09.