Government in flood cash row

The National Audit Office has warned that money spent on improving key flood defences after major storms and tidal surges had not taken budgets past the environment spending levels the coalition Government inherited.

Last night the chairwoman of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Margaret Hodge, said: “I am deeply concerned that current levels of spending are not enough to maintain flood protection, with five million homes at risk of flooding and people’s livelihoods in jeopardy.

“It is alarming that the Government has cut spending on flood protection by 10% between 2011-12 and 2014-15 and it had to react with an emergency bailout of £270 million following the winter floods in 2013.”

Environment ministers made an extra £270m available following the winter storms last year, which saw widespread flooding during the wettest winter on record.

While the additional money restored funding to 2010-11 levels in cash terms, in real terms - adjusted for inflation - it was a 6% decrease in spending.

Flooding minister Dan Rogerson said: ”The NAO has used inappropriate comparisons.

“We have invested £3.2bn in flood defences over the course of this parliament which is a real term increase and half a billion more than the previous parliament.”