GOVERNMENT CUTS TO BLAME FOR ENVIRONMENT AGENCY'S FLOOD FAILURE - HUHNE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Aug 2007

Environment Agency has failed to meet targets on improving flood defence protection

The Environment Agency released a report the day after Parliament went into its summer break showing that it failed to meet key targets on flood defences and protecting homes from flooding.

The Agency's annual report reveals how:

· It failed to meet its target of protecting an extra 31,000 homes in England and Wales from flooding in the period 2006-07

· It failed to get at least 63 per cent of flood management systems up to the required standard.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"It is disappointing that the Environment Agency has failed to meet targets on improving flood defence protection. Much of the blame for this must lie with the Government.

"Ministers failed to give strategic overview of all flood risks to the Environment Agency as they promised, and Gordon Brown cut the flood defence budget by £14 million last summer.

"There was an overall cut last year in the Environment Agency's budget. This demonstrates yet again that, despite his rhetoric, Gordon Brown has completely failed to understand the importance of a joined-up environmental policy."