John Redwood

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Thames barrier defence

John Redwood raised again the need to prepare for future sea surges, storms and heavy rainfall causing flooding by strengthening or renewing the Thames barrier defence to the east of London. He proposed that the new Ministerial team enable the private sector to plan a new sea defence, using profits from land reclamation in the Thames estuary to help pay for the works. John believes we need to adapt to possible floods, and to periods of drought, by proper water management. He welcomes this week's decision to install a desalination water plant in east London.

Mr. John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): Will the new ministerial team urgently look at the need to strengthen or replace the Thames barrier at some point in the next decade, as current predictions are that its design-life probably will not extend beyond 2020 at the latest? Given the pressures from flooding risks and the Government’s worries about global warming, is there not an urgent need to manage the consequences of such developments, and could we not link a new barrier to reclaiming land from the estuary so that we create valuable land for building?

Mr. Woolas: The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point about the defences, and that is being considered. All those issues are a question of balance. Judgments have to be made on the types of defences and where they should be. We should not confuse—I know that he is not doing so—the need to protect against floods and the various causes of floods and coastal erosion, which has already been mentioned as it affects the eastern region.