As storms have battered the country this week and flooding has spread from the West Country to the Thames Valley, the Water Bill completed its committee stage in the House of Lords, undergoing its first line-by-line scrutiny.
Amongst other things, the Bill seeks to address the availability and affordability of insurance for households in high flood risk areas. Other measures include provisions enabling water-related legislation to be brought under the environmental permitting framework at a later date, and changing the regulation of Internal Drainage Boards.
During the discussion in the Lords there were a number of suggested changes to the new Flood Reinsurance Scheme, including the proposal that the remit of the scheme be extended to incorporate flood risk management, as well as covering properties in areas currently at high-risk of flooding.
Peers also highlighted the need for affordable flood insurance in high-risk areas for those not covered by the new Flood Reinsurance scheme for residential properties, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.
Given the widespread nature of the flooding, campaigners and ministers are urging the Government to “beef up” the Flood Reinsurance scheme or Flood Re, as it is called, and get it pushed onto the statute book as quickly as possible.
However, speaking at an all-party committee this week, the Association of British Insurers has repeated its position that leasehold, private rented properties and small businesses should be excluded from the scheme, saying that there is no evidence that these groups would have similar problems obtaining affordable flood cover as the properties covered by the scheme.
The Bill will now move to its report stage, where it will be scrutinised further but no date has yet been scheduled for this.