MP takes Hull North flood insurance plea to Government

Hull North MP Diana Johnson today (Tuesday 23 October) handed in letters on the future of flood insurance to the Government from around 500 Hull North residents.

Despite increased investment in flood defences under the previous Labour Government, many Hull residents have found that their insurance premiums have doubled and excesses have increased since the Hull floods in June 2007.

To ensure that all households could obtain continued home insurance cover the Labour Government agreed a 'Statement of Principles' with the insurance industry in which insurance companies agreed to cover all flood risk areas in return for adequate Government investment in flood defences. This Statement of Principles expires in July 2013. Unless it is replaced people in Hull will find it even more difficult to get flood insurance cover.

On 25 June the then Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) promised Diana Johnson MP in a Commons debate that an agreement would soon be reached with the insurance industry, guaranteeing future insurance cover. However, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has since challenged this and four months later no announcement has yet been made.

The letter from Hull North residents, handed into DEFRA today, calls on the Government to finalise the promised new agreement with the insurance industry so that flood risk areas in Hull and elsewhere can continue getting insurance cover.

Diana Johnson MP said: "Four months after the ministerial promise made to me in the House of Commons there is still no agreement between the Government and the insurance industry that would enable Hull residents to get flood insurance cover after July 2013.

"It is clear that the Coalition's 27% cut in flood defence investment is an obstacle to renewing the agreement that the previous Government had with the insurers. If the Government allows this situation to go on unresolved it will be bad for Hull people, our property market and the wider local economy.

"I look forward to seeing what response my constituents get to their letter."