To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to examine flood prevention measures along the River Rom in the London Borough of Havering. (263590)

The Environment Agency will continue to carry out routine maintenance on main rivers in the River Rom catchment to reduce the risk of flooding. Dredging work has recently been carried out on the section of the River Rom downstream of Roneo Corner, Rush Green in Romford.

The Cross Road flood storage area at Collier Row, Romford will continue to be maintained providing upstream attenuation of peak flood flows. This flood storage facility alleviates the risk of flooding to properties within the west Romford area downstream of Collier Row.

The Environment Agency is also implementing several improvement measures which will be carried out to the Cross Road flood storage area during 2010 and 2011 at an estimated overall cost of £620,000. This is to ensure that the current standard of flood alleviation is maintained for the downstream area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to fund maintenance of the River Rom in the London Borough of Havering. (263591)

The River Rom is a high risk system and in 2008-09 the Environment Agency carried out planned maintenance work. The Environment Agency plans to spend £40,000 in 2009-10 on further channel and asset maintenance.