To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities have published schedules of works for maintenance of (a) rural rivers and (b) coastal areas at risk of flooding; and when each such schedule was published. (246110)

DEFRA does not currently collate information published by local authorities regarding the maintenance of river and coastal defences.

The Pitt review recommended that schedules should be published for each local authority area. The Government support this recommendation and the Environment Agency will publish information on planned maintenance, after consulting regional flood defence committees and other local stakeholders, from 2009-10.