To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on the effect of additional development on Canvey Island on the ability to evacuate the island in the event of flood risk; and if he will make a statement. (205071)

Assessment of risks to the public and how to meet them, including identification of any evacuation routes needed, is a matter for the relevant Local Resilience Forum. In cases where information from Flood Risk Assessments under PPS 25 is available, this can be taken into account in contingency planning and in development control.

The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee on all planning applications where there is a risk of flooding and continues to work with Local Resilience Forums through area managers and flood incident management teams to improve flood emergency planning and co-ordination.