What discussions it has had regarding the availability of flood insurance for homes and businesses in areas that have experienced flooding.

I spoke to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on 27 February 2014 about a number of issues relating to flood insurance in Scotland. In particular, I passed on concerns that had been raised with me by David MacDonald of Stonehaven Flood Action Group and a number of MSPs, about the continued availability of flood insurance, particularly in areas such as Stonehaven that had experienced flooding in the recent past and where many policies were coming up for renewal.
I was assured by the ABI that, while work to develop the new flood re-insurance scheme continues, ABI members will voluntarily meet their commitments to their existing customers under the old statement of principles agreement. The ABI said they would be happy to look into local cases to establish where ABI members were not abiding by that voluntary agreement. The ABI also suggested that residents struggling to get insurance contact the British Insurance Brokers Association through their website, which can help to identify a range of brokers who can quote for flood insurance, whether as a stand-alone policy or as part of a bundled, household policy.
To that end, I have asked the Scottish Flood Forum to let the Scottish Government know of the details of any such cases which have been brought to their attention, and we will take them up with the ABI. However, clearly MSPs can play an important role in supplying such cases to the Scottish Flood Forum on behalf of constituents.