People should be able to expect a two-hour warning at the very least

MP Edward Leigh

The inquiry into responsibility for flood defences in England says everyone whose homes are at risk of flooding should be entitled to a sufficient warning.

Conservative MP Edward Leigh said: "People at risk have every right to expect public authorities to give the highest priority to improving flood defence systems".

The MPs' report found responsibility and funding for inland flood defences to be complex and confusing for the public.

Countrywide strategy

Mr Leigh, who is chairman of the all-party committee, said: "I cannot imagine how truly awful it must be to have your home flooded.

"People should be able to expect a two-hour warning at the very least, but the agency's all-too-modest aim means that by 2009-10 one in five households would still not get even this much notice.

"The agency really should be aiming much higher than this - lives and property depend on it."

The report said there seemed to result in inconsistencies in service across Britain.

It concluded there was a need for a countrywide strategy while not ignoring local responsibility.

Climatic changes

Investment in new flood defences is to increase over the next few years.

But flood risks may increase because of climate changes.

It said the agency should have strategies to cover entire river catchments and take into account environmental issues and land use.

Households receiving at least two-hour warning of floods has increased from 13 per cent in 1996 to about 60 per cent during the recent floods.

But the agency aims to achieve 80 per cent of households at risk by 2009-2010.

The MPs say the agency should use their review of the success of warning systems during the autumn 2000 floods, for planning a strategy to give virtually all households at risk at least two hours' notice of floods.

They want this done in a shorter timescale.