ABI: Government has failed on flood defence spending

Director general of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), Stephen Haddrill, has hit out at the results of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review on flood defence spending.

“The insurance industry is helping tens of thousands of people affected by flooding this summer, but the Government has now failed to play its part. Millions of homeowners and businesses around the country have been let down by the Government’s failure to commit sufficient money to new and improved flood defences,” he said.

He added: “Government spending for the next three years is less than we were asking for, even before the floods. It does not begin to address the major issues, including