To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers his Department has other than those in Planning Policy Guidance 25 to restrict building on flood risk areas; and if he will make a statement. (275636)

Powers to control and restrict building development are provided by the Town and Country Planning Acts. These powers are principally exercised by local planning authorities and, where appropriate, by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. My Department has no specific additional powers to influence planning decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2009, Official Report, column 1057W, on floods: property development, which local planning authorities granted planning permission against an Environment Agency objection in each of the years for which information was provided in the answer. (277264)

A document listing those English local planning authorities that granted planning permission against Environment Agency advice on flood risk in 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 has been placed in the Library of the House.