Although we cannot take on compensation for any type of blight, we can remove the blight by contributing to properly costed and evaluated flood and coastal defence schemes. The local council, which is considering that, is welcome to submit any proposals to MAFF to establish whether they qualify for grant aid. That may deal with the problems that my hon. Friend's constituents currently face. I stress that we have clear criteria for giving grant aid, as my hon.
Friend is aware.
The key objectives of our flood and coastal defence policy are, first, to encourage the provision of adequate and cost-effective flood warning systems. No Government can guarantee that floods will not happen. We can, however, reduce the risk of floods and coastal flooding by encouraging people to provide good advanced warning. Column 63WH encourage the provision of adequate, economically, technically and environmentally sound and sustainable flood and coastal defence measures. Lessons have been learned from planning policies in the past.