The figures relate to the national railway network whose infrastructure is controlled by Railtrack. I have been asked to reply. The Land Drainage Act 1991 gives local authorities permissive powers to undertake flood defence works on ordinary watercourses that are not within the district of an internal drainage board. Under these powers local authorities may build and maintain flood defences and their expenditure on such works is recognised in Standard Spending Assessments. Local authorities will also be able to apply for grant aid for accelerated river flood defence works.
Local authorities have separate responsibilities for dealing with flooding emergencies.
For this work they may be eligible for re-imbursement under the Bellwin rules that are administered by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on personnel management in the naval service. The aim of these changes, which have been instigated by the Navy Board, is to alleviate overstretch by lessening the impact on the individual of a high operational tempo and to reduce the turbulence which existing arrangements may produce. The benefits should include greater stability for members of the Naval Service and their families, both in geographical terms and in the predictability of their employment, and hence enable them to plan their lives with greater certainty. A basic concept has been outlined and will now be further developed.