Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, responding to Committee on Climate Change’s recent report on climate change adaptation, said;

“The Government’s failure to get to grips with the increasing impact of climate change threatens our national security.

“The report for the Committee on Climate Change makes it clear that the Government’s current plans for flood management will result in more homes being at risk of flooding.

“One of the first things this Tory-led Government did when they came into office was to cut funding for flood protection by 17 per cent in real terms.

“Of course tough decisions have had to be made on spending to reduce the deficit, including within DEFRA, but we need to end this short-termism to ensure we are not storing up problems.

“That is why Ed Miliband announced last week that the next Labour Government will establish an independent National Infrastructure Commission to identify the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs, including flood defences, and hold Government to account for meeting them.”

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