Minister defends record on flooding

Caroline Spelman was quizzed on the Prime Minister's claims yesterday that the coalition had "protected" the flood budget.

During Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron told MPs spending was "roughly the same" as under the last four years of the previous Labour government.

In the House of Commons, Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Kingston-upon-Hull North, said the flood protection budget was facing cuts of 28 per cent.

And Lord Smith, chairman of the Environment Agency, warned future flood defence works might be hampered by a tight funding settlement.

Mrs Spelman, who was visiting Lostwithiel, in Cornwall – the scene of some of the worst flooding yesterday – denied Labour's claim.

"We fought very hard to protect capital for flood defences and if you compare what we are proposing to spend, which is 2.1bn on flood defences and flood maintenance compared with last year, you will get a different figure," she said.

"If you look at the average of the last four years of the Labour Government, what we are proposing is an 8 per cent reduction each year.

"We believe we can maintain all the flood defences that we are contracted to build and all the maintenance that we are required to do on that basis."

Asked about Mr Cameron's claim that spending would be "roughly the same", the Environment Secretary said that an 8 per cent reduction compared to the 50 per cent or 60 per cent cuts for other departments showed the Government was committed to flood defence.

During the visit to the Cornish town, Mrs Spelman met residents and also spoke to members of the emergency services and council staff.