RBS Insurance: Need for increased investment in flood defence

Ahead of this Wednesday's Budget, Martin Hall, Director of Home Underwriting at RBS Insurance, comments on the need for increased investment in flood defence: "Flooding poses an increasing threat to all householders and businesses, as today's storms and last summer's severe weather demonstrate. The Government must recognise this by providing the necessary investment in flood defence without delay.

"RBS Insurance wants to continue offering flood cover as standard to householders in the future, and call on the Government to provide additional funding in the Budget for the full implementation of Sir Michael Pitt's final Lessons Learned recommendations this summer.

"In particular, this would include increased resource for the Environment Agency to deliver new tools for mapping surface water flooding. RBS Insurance also wants to see strengthened planning powers for the Environment Agency to prevent new homes being built in unsuitable flood risk locations."