The Welsh Assembly Government and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have agreed to work together to improve the management of flood risks and to help businesses and people recover more quickly when flooding occurs.

The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson said: "Only last month Welsh communities were affected by flash flooding. With forecasts showing the increased rainfall due to climate change the risk of flooding is set to increase. Irrespective of the height of our defences or the capacity of our drainage systems, we will have to adapt to more extreme weather.

“In Wales we have been advocating a move from flood defence to flood risk management for some time. This agreement between the Welsh Assembly and the ABI is one measure to sit alongside hard defences of our rivers and coast, raising awareness of the risks of flooding amongst our vulnerable communities and increasing their resilience to flood events.

"Insurance companies will continue to provide effective and efficient claims services following flooding whilst the Welsh Assembly Government will put in place various measures to mitigate against flood risk’.

"This confirms our shared commitment to work together to provide a long-term solution that will enable flood insurance to remain as affordable and widely available as possible. We are already taking action to promoting general insurance to low income households through Community Housing Cymru, the Chartered Institute of Housing and through our financial inclusion strategy.”

The agreement outlines how the Welsh Assembly Government and the ABI will work together to provide a long term solution to enable flood insurance to continue to be made as widely available by:

* Improving understanding and awareness of flood risk

* Putting in place a long-term strategy (of over 25 years) to reduce flood risk and encourage action to mitigate and minimise the risks and costs of flooding

* Ensuring the planning system prevents inappropriate development in flood-risk areas and

* Raising awareness in areas where flood risk is significant

Actions the ABI have agreed include:

* To continue to make flood insurance available for small businesses and
* To encourage customers to reinstate flood damaged property in ways which makes it more resilient to flooding.

•Date: 14th July 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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