Newport East

MP Questions Prime Minister on Flood Defences 18 July 2008

MP Calls for More Money for Flood Defences

Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East, yesterday asked the Prime Minister to ensure that adequately funded flood defences remained a priority for constituencies like Newport East.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Question Time, the MP for Newport East welcomed the deal last week between the Government and Association of British Insurers that ensured that flood insurance would be widely available, at affordable rates, in the long term. But she called on the PM to reassure constituents that adequate funding for flood defences (which would be delivered via the Assembly and Environment Agency in Wales) remained the priority.

Jessica Morden said: "I've been working with the excellent Caldicot Wentlooge Flooding Alliance who have been campaigning hard to ensure there is effective flooding protection along the coast line between Newport and Chepstow. I support their campaign for improved flood defences because it is important that we protect our communities along the coast line."

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the work Jessica had done in raising this issue and said "We will be spending £800 million on the flood defence strategy by 2011-raising the amount from £400 million a few years ago to £600 million now, and then to £800 million over the next period of time. However, my hon. Friend is absolutely right-she has campaigned on this-that we must make the investment in flood protection for the future."