Climate Change Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 183: 183: After Clause 50, insert the following new Clause— ““Adaptation to climate change: flood risk in England and Wales (1) The Environment Act 1995 (c. 25) is amended as follows. (2) After subsection (5) in section 6 (several provisions with respect to water) insert— ““(5A) The Agency shall have the function of co-ordinating the assessment of the risk due to climate change of flooding in relation to England and Wales from all sources, including surface water flooding and drainage, and responsibility for co-ordinating a long-term strategy for reducing this risk.”””” The noble Lord said: I do not wish to prolong the debate for too much longer. I shall speak briefly to the amendments in this group which relate to co-ordination. I remind the Committee that we discussed Amendment No. 183B at length, which concerns the setting up of an independent scrutiny committee. During that debate I came to the conclusion that the amendment was too weak and that that body needed to be stronger. The body would be an advisory group but it is necessary to ensure greater clarity as regards leadership in this area. This is borne out in practice with regard to the various agencies involved in delivering adaptation on the ground. Rather than inventing new organisations or opting for radical change, we believe that the Environment Agency should have a much stronger and more obvious leadership role in this area. I remind the Committee that dealing with river and coastline flooding are already the responsibility of the Environment Agency, but drainage is in the hands of local authorities. Water on main roads comes under the remit of the Highways Agency and local authorities; and private water companies are responsible for sewer flooding. As we saw last year, a complex system of organisations deals with water at different stages in different places while it is going in different directions. However, what is important from a citizen’s point of view is that the matter is dealt with quickly and effectively. I am not sure that the relevant amendment completely fulfils that objective as we accept that there needs to be a national advisory committee. However, we believe that to enable all the bodies that have responsibilities in this area to take effective executive action on the ground, a body such as the Environment Agency should have a lead role, thereby enabling everybody to know where the leadership role resides, and the responsibilities that come from that. Amendment No. 183BA, which stands in my name, would amend the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act to make sure that it contains a duty to co-ordinate the assessment of risk due to climate change and to co-ordinate adaptation and other such measures. It is important to include that duty in the responsibilities of the bodies covered by that Act. I beg to move.