Brooks presses the Government to invest in local flood protection
On Thursday 26th February during DEFRA questions in the House of Commons, Brooks Newmark pressed the Government to commit to investment in local flood protection. On Thursday 26th February during DEFRA questions in the House of Commons, Brooks Newmark pressed the Government to commit to investment in local flood protection.
In response to recent local flooding, Brooks had the following exchange with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn:
Mr. Brooks Newmark (Braintree) (Con): Two weeks ago, many villages in and around Braintree and Witham were once again hit by substantial flooding, which closed roads and left people stranded. Does the Secretary of State agree or at least recognise that my constituency urgently needs further investment for flood prevention, and will he commit to that investment today?Hilary Benn: I recognise that the hon. Gentleman's constituents were affected by the flooding and I know that he wrote to my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on that question. Mercifully, the number of properties flooded across the country was relatively small and a number of the flood defence schemes that have been put in place acted to protect people in those circumstances. On investment, the Government's position is crystal clear. It would be quite helpful if the hon. Gentleman encouraged his party's new shadow spokesperson to give an equally clear commitment that it supports the investment that we are going to make up to 2010-11.
In response to the Secretary of State's comments, Brooks says "It is unfortunate that the Government chose to sidestep my question. Recent events show that our local area is at a real risk from flooding and I am very concerned that Government complacency is seriously exacerbating the problem. I think it is simply unacceptable to leave our local area open to such risks and I am determined to continue to fight for the investment in flood prevention that we desperately need."
