Question
Flooding in Somerset is a huge issue. One of the care homes in my constituency flooded last year within seconds. Yes, the Government have given Somerset a lot more money towards tackling flooding, but that does not go far enough. What else can the Government do to support rural Somerset in being ready for flooding this year?
Answer
I understand why the hon. Gentleman will want to raise concerns about his own area; that is absolutely his responsibility. He will, I hope, have heard the comments I made earlier about the amount of money that has been invested in flood defences. These are matters that we take incredibly seriously. I know, as a former metro mayor, the importance of issues relating to flooding and of working across local authority boundaries to make sure that, along with the Environment Agency and water companies, we have a proper response and a proper defensive posture is put in place. I discuss the matter regularly with my colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. If the hon. Gentleman has any specific concerns, or anything specific that he would like us to look at, I would be very happy to do that on his behalf.25% vibes
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The reply addresses the question only partially. It describes general flood-defence investment, joint working with the Environment Agency and water companies, and regular departmental discussions, but it does not name any new or additional action for rural Somerset. Its only concrete offer is to look at specific concerns if the MP raises them, so the person who asked would likely need to follow up to get a firm answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What else the Government can do to support rural Somerset in being ready for flooding this year | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply gestures at flood-defence investment (3), cross-boundary working with the Environment Agency and water companies (5, 6), and regular DEFRA discussions (7), but names no new or additional action for rural Somerset. Its only commitment (8) is to look at specific concerns if the MP raises them, which stops short of committing to any further support, and statement 2 pushes responsibility back to the MP. |