MPs are set to debate sustainable drainage systems in Westminster Hall at 1.50pm today - the topic for the debate has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee.

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) is warning that the Government response to the Commission’s study on reducing the risks of surface water flooding published in November 2022. “does not meet the scale of the challenge and lacks the urgency required to meet the threat.”

More than 40 expert bodies, academics and delivery organisations have written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling on the Government to implement a 2010 flooding law to ease flood risk and sewage spills.

Water UK, the organisation which represents all the UK water companies, has called on both Government and water sector regulators to overhaul the existing arrangements for surface water management and address significant issues with regard to funding future investment.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has today announced that the government will immediately accept 12 recommendations from an independent review into responsibilities around surface water flooding.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has compared spending on flood defences to investment in broadband and mobile phone networks as a method of stimulating economic growth in the UK.