Homes in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner are not immune to flooding or the severe damage it causes.
I was proud of the work undertaken by the previous Conservative Government that took real action to prevent flooding and protect homes. The action taken provided better protection for 600,000 properties, and between 2015 and 2024, over 900,000 acres of farmland were also protected. Shortly after arriving in Parliament, I was delighted that the Government announced a doubling of capital funding for flood defences, which rose to £5.6 billion from 2021 to 2027.
Flood Re is a joint initiative between the insurance industry and Whitehall. Flood Re, which was established by a previous Conservative Government, provides reinsurance to promote the affordability and availability of insurance for UK households at high flood risk. The Labour Government today announced reforms to the scheme, which it hopes will keep it operating.
While I welcome the Environment Secretary’s intentions, there are clear warning signs that it might not survive until the envisioned 2039 end date. Today in Parliament, I raised an often-overlooked point in the Labour Government’s thinking. Residents around the River Pinn are particularly vulnerable to flooding, and I am concerned that the changes announced today will be punitive toward properties based on their council tax band. The Minister did little to reassure me that this is not just a tax based upon the property’s value.
