CLA response to the Efra Select Committee report on flooding

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The Government has published its response to the Efra Select Committee's Future flood prevention report.

The CLA represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses. CLA President Ross Murray gave evidence to the Efra Committee during its inquiry into flood management in 2016.

Mr Murray said: “At the root of this row between the Government and the Select Committee is a fundamental problem. The way we currently organise decision making on flooding at the local level is confusing, inaccessible and it is not working.

“We didn’t back the Committee’s call for a new national flooding authority. We don’t want to see yet another ‘quango’ created at a time when the real need is for better joined up thinking across a range of land use challenges. However, we do expect the Environment Agency to show leadership in delivering a big improvement in the co-ordination between the complex web of Internal Drainage Boards, Rivers Authorities and Water Management Boards.”