To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures (a) have been implemented, and (b) are planned, to prevent flooding in (1) Gloucestershire, (2) Worcestershire, and (3) Herefordshire. [HL5846]

Since September 2007 the Environment Agency has implemented a number of measures to manage and reduce the risk of flooding in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire:

two flood alleviation schemes have been implemented in Gloucestershire (Deerhurst, Bourton-on-the-Water), and one in Worcestershire (Hylton Road, Worcester). Over £1,000,000 has been spent on an improvement scheme for the River Chelt in Cheltenham;

risk-based maintenance of flood defences has been carried out. This includes blockage and vegetation removal from channels and structures to improve flood flow conveyance;

in excess of 100 meetings and flood awareness events have been held with communities at risk or who have been affected by flooding;

improvements have been made to flood incident management arrangements and responses;

improvements have been made to the telemetry network and the production of forecasting models. A new, more local community-based warning system has been introduced, along with a National Flood Forecasting Centre to improve flood forecasting and warning; and

the Environment Agency has contributed to 13 local resilience forum multiagency flood plans for emergency responses and recovery.

A £5,000,000 flood scheme in Hereford now provides better protection to 196 properties, including 25 listed buildings.

Details of future projects are given in the Environment Agency's medium-term plan, which is available on its website.

In addition, Defra is funding early action within Gloucestershire on managing risks from surface water: £50,000 has been allocated to date, with a further £100,000 to be provided by March 2011.