Flood Prevention Measures (Assessment)

As per previous responses on the issue of flooding, I repeat that the Scottish Government continues to support local authorities, which are responsible for flood protection schemes, through substantial and sustained investment in flood resilience.

Since 2016, we have invested more than £600 million to help to deliver 21 flood protection schemes, including in Huntly, in the member’s constituency, and in Stonehaven, in a neighbouring constituency. A further nine schemes are under construction and development. Those investments help to protect homes, businesses and communities across Scotland. In addition, we have funded the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to develop a national flood asset database and assess infrastructure that is critical to flood warning services. We continue to work closely with partners to assess outcomes, identify lessons learned and target our investment effectively.

First, I need to correct Alexander Burnett about there being no budget lines associated with flooding. Several budget lines are associated with flooding in my portfolio.

The other thing that Alexander Burnett did not mention—I alluded to it in my first answer—is that councils are responsible for the implementation of their flood risk management plans. In the constituency that he represents, Aberdeenshire Council is responsible for that. This year, the council received £2.38 million in flood resilience funding, which was an increase of around £2.13 million on the previous year. Of course, the decision as to how that funding is deployed and whether the flood schemes are taken forward by local authorities is up to the administration of the council, which, last time I looked—albeit that it is hanging by a thread—is led by the Conservatives.

Will the cabinet secretary confirm that the Scottish Government has committed an additional £15 million for flood mitigation and prevention, with resource targeted to areas that are most impacted by flooding, and will she outline the Government’s priorities for that investment, including how it will help local communities to play more of a role in reducing flood risk? [Interruption.]

I want to hear myself speak, but there is some chuntering by the Conservatives. Maybe they are annoyed that I pointed out that their administration has done next to nothing when it comes to the Aberdeenshire flood scheme.

Settle down, please.

Paul McLennan is right that £15 million has been pledged. Indeed, I am using that £15 million to improve Scotland’s flood resilience through actions such as supporting communities to prepare for and respond to flooding; the community flood resilience fund; the £3 million fund to support nature-based and blue-green solutions; the £2.5 million fund to help local authorities, on top of the money that they already get through their block grant for flooding preparedness and resilience, to improve and extend the life of existing flood protection assets; and about £1 million of funding for supporting innovative coastal resilience projects, one of which I referenced in my answer to Carol Mochan.