Beverley and Holderness MP, Graham Stuart, has accused the Government of ‘incompetence’ and ‘complacency’ after it published a Floods and Water Bill in draft form only.
The Bill comes almost two years after the flooding of June 2007 and, according to the Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, aims to “improve how we prepare for and respond to flood emergencies and protect water supplies during drought.” It states that local authorities should have a “clear leadership role in local flood risk management, encompassing all sources of flooding”.
However, Graham has criticised the Government for publishing it in draft form only, without any firm timetable for implementing the new laws. The Bill simply states the final introduction of legislation will “depend on the availability of parliamentary time.” A consultation exercise will also run until July.
Graham said: “There is little or no chance of the Bill becoming law before the next general election.”
He added: “Gordon Brown promised last May that there would be new legislation giving local councils and emergency services the necessary powers to deal with the threat of flooding. Yet almost a year later all we get is a draft bill with absolutely no indication of when it will become law.
“My constituents want to know that their Government is doing everything in its power to prevent a repeat of the 2007 floods. I have to conclude that they are not. They have dragged their feet for too long and it will now fall to the next Government to get the Bill onto the statute book.”
