Flood defence funding 'is priority'

%VIRTUAL-SkimlinksPromo%Maintaining flood protection for communities should take priority over cost-cutting, to prevent a repeat of the devastation caused by the winter floods, MPs have warned.

Funding for clearing rivers, routine dredging and maintaining existing flood defences is at a "bare minimum", the Parliamentary Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee said in a report on the floods.