Written question WQ90477
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What consideration has the Minister given to the NRW report 'Long-term Investment Requirements for Flood Defences in Wales' that highlights hundreds of thousands of properties are at risk of flooding in Wales?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
I welcome the publication of the Natural Resources Wales Long Term Investment Requirements (LTIR) report.
We recognise that there are difficult challenges ahead and are working closely with communities across Wales to establish how they can remain safe in the short-term, whilst planning to adapt for the future.
No community has been written off and we continue to fund, strengthen, and maintain our flood defence infrastructure in Wales. This year (2023-24) we have allocated over £75m in Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales, the highest ever annual spend on flood risk management in Wales to date.
NRW’s LTIR report is one piece of the wider jigsaw of flood risk management. In October 2023 we announced the launch of the Natural Flood Management Accelerator Programme. The programme is a 2-year £4.6 million investment which will further expand our commitment to working collaboratively with Welsh farmers, landowners and third sector organisations across Wales.
Meanwhile, as part of our PfG Commitments, we have commissioned the National Infrastructure Commission (NICW) to assess how the nationwide likelihood of flooding of homes, businesses and infrastructure can be minimised by 2050. NICW have begun this work which is expected to be completed in Summer 2024.