SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF STORM DESMOND

That this House recognises that the flooding caused by Storm Desmond in December 2015 was the most extreme on record in the UK; stands in solidarity with the thousands of people who had their homes and businesses damaged by the storm and who are still struggling two years on from the storm; thanks emergency workers, volunteers and local communities for their work to help flood victims; congratulates the people of Cumbria and other affected areas for their strength and resilience in the face of such devastation, and for their relentless efforts to enable their communities to return to normal life; is concerned by the lack of investment in flood defences and the pushing back of essential flood defence work; recognises that many people across Cumbria are still being affected by floods that are preventable; encourages the development of a new national flood relief and resilience scheme to better protect communities from future flooding; and further encourages the Government to ensure that the flood relief scheme for the River Kent is completed as soon as possible now that the Environment Agency has finalised plans.