First I should like to express my heartfelt sympathy to those readers who have suffered damage and distress in the recent serious flooding. I have seen for myself just what the impact has been around the country.

The Government has already responded by announcing improvements in the Bellwin scheme to help local authorities who have incurred unexpected costs, plus a package of funding an additional £51 million over the next four years for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to provide to flood and coastal defence operating authorities, primarily the Environment Agency.

A major element of the package is designed to accelerate the programme of river flood defence works.

Naturally, the time taken by an operating authority to prepare flood defence schemes is a matter of concern to those in affected areas.

However, it has to be recognised that most flood defence problems have to be fitted around a complex, built environment and require detailed engineering assessments.

Time is needed for consideration of a range of options to ensure the most appropriate and sustainable option is identified, value for money is obtained and to allow for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out.

Environment Agency staff, particularly in the North East, are still fully committed to dealing with extensive flooding. No doubt as soon as they have contained the position and undertaken any necessary emergency works, they will consider if advantage can be taken of the additional funding package for schemes on the River Derwent; decisions on which schemes to promote and their timing is ultimately for the agency to take.

Tony Blair,

Downing Street, London.