This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Flood prevention report
22/04/2004
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister
Allan Wilson today welcomed publication of a report
assessing the risk of flooding in light of climate change
and flood management plans.
Welcoming the UK Climate Impacts Programme report
'Foresight's Flood and Coastal Defence Project', Mr Wilson
said:
"This report will help policy makers take the right
decisions now and for the future.
"It provides a challenging vision of flood and coastal
defence issues over the next 30 to 100 years.
"It is clear that we need a long-term view. Already the
UK climate scenarios provide us with predictions for UK
climate in the 2020s, 2050s and 2080s and we have assessed
the effects these will have on Scotland's flood defences.
The Foresight Report will allow consideration on an even
longer timescale.
"The Scottish Executive is already responding. Last
year, we published our National Flooding Framework based on
Awareness, Avoidance, Alleviation and Assistance which
forms the cornerstone of our policy.
"We have to strike the right balance on how we use land
and avoid inappropriate development on flood plains,
Scottish Planning Policy 7, Planning and Flooding, which we
published in February, strengthened planning guidance in
this area.
"The Executive is committed to improving the support
available to those affected by flooding. We have developed
new approaches to improving the take up of insurance by
funding social landlords promotion of insurance for
tenants.
"This report will make a significant contribution to
further raising awareness of the issues and ensure that we
make choices today to protect ourselves and future
generations from the misery, cost and inconvenience of
flooding."
The project is a thorough, independent analysis of
future flood risk. The work was carried out by over 60
experts, led by Professor Edward Evans, visiting professor
at Glasgow University and former head of Halcrow Group
Ltd's Water Resource department. The team used advanced
modelling techniques to devise a range of future
scenarios.
The Executive has provided £14.2 million this year to
Local Authorities to take forward flood prevention
schemes.
The National Technical Advisory Group established by the
Executive last year, is busily engaged on improving
national guidance, including the promotion of sustainable
flood management.This new obligation was placed on
Ministers, SEPA and relevant authorities in the discharge
of their relevant functions under the Water Environment and
Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.