The chancellor said on Wednesday:
“We will fund a major improvement in our flood defences and coastal erosion management, that will provide better protection for 145,000 homes.”
Except the LGA revealed yesterday that the flood budget is falling by 33 per cent. Instead of £3bn over four years there will be £2.1bn over that period. I’ve put in a call to Defra to see if there’s an explanation – other than the obvious one.
UPDATE: Defra have come back to say that the £3bn was a combination of Defra and DCLG money and the LGA is comparing “apples with pears”. They say their contribution is falling from £2.4bn to £2.1bn. having said that, I’m still not sure that this tallies with Osborne’s claim of increased funding – or the idea that Caroline Spelman would ring-fence floods from any cuts.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey