To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the relative standards of protection against flood risk in rural and urban areas; and if he will make a statement. (209364)

The Environment Agency is currently updating its National Flood Risk Assessment and this will enable an assessment of the differences in standards of protection for rural and urban areas. Government investment is prioritised to maximise reduction in risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the 15 urgent recommendations of the Pitt review on the summer floods of 2007 have been implemented; how many of the interim conclusions of the Pitt review have been implemented; and how many of the additional 20 interim conclusions of the Pitt review published on 4 March 2000 have been implemented. (210431)

The Government agreed with the 15 urgent recommendations set out in the interim Pitt report. Significant progress has been made with all of them and Sir Michael reviewed our progress with them in April 2008. His review can be found on the Cabinet Office website.

The Government contributed DEFRA's views on the additional 92 interim conclusions to Sir Michael, many of which are already in progress, and looks forward to receiving his final report.