Speeches by Gibson.

“What areas of technology do you think might be able to help?”

“Thank you. Then a slight change of tack: questions for Mr Berry to do with SMEs supporting the Government’s goal to build the 1.5 million homes. I share your thoughts—we need these biblical type skills, especially in the smaller construction sites where other systems are just not appropriate—but I just wondered what im…”

“It is certainly a cost saving but it increases the embodied carbon of that project dramatically.”

“That is good to hear. One very final question. We are seeing Homes England in the next few weeks, and I just wondered—first to Mr Berry—what role you think Homes England could play in supporting the development of a skilled workforce in low-carbon construction and sustainable housing delivery, specifically aimed at SME…”

“Thank you. I do not know if either of the other two want to come in on that.”

“Leading by example. Thank you, that is very helpful. Thank you all.”

“I can see that. Out of curiosity, though, if the project were to go ahead, would there be community buy-in? Does it feel as if it would be a step forward in mitigating at source?”

“We can also secure continuity, which of course is always one of the problems with voluntary groups, is it not?”

“Thank you very much. That is very helpful.”

“Mary, do you know of similar projects?”

“Graham, I do not know whether there is anything in your coastal areas that is similar.”

“To follow up on the Chair’s point about community engagement in flood risk management, I represent Chippenham, which is a constituency that floods regularly. I live in Bradford-on-Avon, which is an area at low level. In the most recent floods, it was the community emergency volunteers who made all the difference. They …”

“I am aware that our flood warden was trained by the Environment Agency, and I am absolutely not criticising the local Environment Agency officers and wardens in my area, in any way. They work tirelessly and are incredibly accessible. It is just about this disconnect that people feel in the case of emergency, and this k…”

“Would it be sensible if the other 90% of the country—or at least those of us who flood but do not have drainage associations—had an overarching body that would address some of the concerns of local Environment Agency officers? Is that what you are suggesting? Those concerns could then be taken through to a slightly mor…”

“We have not quite decided which is the lead authority yet, have we?”

“Thank you. I see what you mean. It is about trying to get them to form a very specific and visible group, to give more trust and more transparency. Can I ask Tracey what value that local knowledge can bring to the flood risk planning and response? How can volunteer networks and flood groups be better supported to contr…”

“We can also secure continuity, which of course is always one of the problems with voluntary groups, is it not?”

“Thank you very much. That is very helpful.”

“I recently met a group of farmers and landowners in my constituency: the Bremhill Vales Farmers Group, who work with another group called BremZero. What is really interesting is that they are working with the Environment Agency on a project called Wiltshire Rural Run-off, where, as landowners, they are looking at mitig…”

“I can see that. Out of curiosity, though, if the project were to go ahead, would there be community buy-in? Does it feel as if it would be a step forward in mitigating at source?”