Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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Local MP deplores DEFRA budget cut - what about our flood defences?
The £200 million DEFRA cut to proposed expenditure announced yesterday may have a devastating impact on funding for local flood defence schemes according to Norman Baker MP.
Norman raised the issue of flood defences with Treasury Minister John Healey only a fortnight ago. At this meeting, he reinforced the case for more money to be made available for flood defences nationwide, and particularly in Lewes. He also warned that cuts to DEFRA's budget could be counter-productive in economic terms, and said if cuts to DEFRA did proceed, then flood defence funding should be ring-fenced.
At the meeting on 6th July, the Minister, John Healey, confirmed that climate change was one of the government's top priorities, and accepted Norman's point that this had to include money spent on adaptation. He promised he would speak to DEFRA specifically about flood defence funding. He also revealed that the government was looking at other possible ways of funding flood works, which did not involve direct expenditure by central government.
Indeed, in further correspondence on this issue on 25th July, Stephen Timms, Treasury Minister, wrote to Norman: "I would like to reassure you that the management of flood risk is a priority for the government". Ten days later, the Treasury has cut the funding.
It would appear that John Healey and Stephen Timms' government no longer sees climate change as one of its top priorities, seemingly withdrawing funds from the very department charged with dealing with the problem.
Norman Baker says:
"The cut to DEFRA funding is huge and will undoubtedly mean less money for flood defence work, unless funds are ring-fenced as I have asked. Cutting flood defence funds is economically short-sighted, as well as unfair on communities at risk such as here in Lewes."