Committee members wish to hear from those who have been affected by flooding, are involved in managing or responding to flooding or can provide insights into future flooding in the context of climate change.

Committee convener Roseanna Cunningham MSP said: "Being flooded is a devastating experience. This summer parts of England suffered the worst effects. Parts of Scotland have been affected by flooding in the past and may be again in the future. We can’t pretend that we can eliminate flooding but we must ensure that it is managed as effectively as possible.

“We want to look at how the existing systems of flood management in Scotland operate and how they might be improved in the context of past experience and possible future climate change.

“The Committee is encouraged that the Scottish Government has committed itself to modernising legislation relating to flooding and flood management. Our inquiry will help us be better informed about the wider issues relating to flooding and flood management before that legislation is introduced.”

The Committee’s inquiry will examine what the potential impact of climate change on the frequency and severity of all types of flooding in Scotland, and what changes are needed to the existing legislation. It will also examine who should be responsible for flood management and how should it be funded and what role should sustainable flood management play in mitigating the effects of flooding, as well as what role land-use management, the planning system and building regulations can play.

The Committee will also consider if there are any improvements needed to existing flood warning systems, and how effective are the responses to flooding events.

The deadline for written submissions is 12 December 2007, and for detailed information on how to submit evidence, visit the Committee’s website.

The inquiry is launched as a report by the Flooding Issues Advisory Committee (FIAC) calls for action to be taken to ensure Scotland is better prepared for flooding.

The report calls for key organisations to work together to take a more strategic approach to tackling flood risk management and to ensure communities are adequately protected from flooding. 

Commenting on the report, Minister for Environment Michael Russell said: “I would like to thank the members of FIAC and its sub-committees for their work in producing this report. FIAC was an excellent example of stakeholders working together to reach consensus on difficult issues such as tackling flooding.

“Scotland cannot ignore the threat which climate change brings in increasing the occurrence of wet, stormy weather and we must act now to protect ourselves from that threat. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling this growing danger.

“The flooding summit held in Perth last week demonstrated unanimous support for a fresh approach to flood management. Key to this is de-cluttering the process and establishing a framework to enable all organisations to work together effectively to deliver flood risk management for the 21st century. 

“Some of the suggestions in the FIAC report, such as developing a more sustainable approach to flood management, have already been adopted by the Scottish Government whilst other recommendations will require further discussion.”

Amongst the recommendations, FIAC called for the setting up a forum in Scotland to help people and communities become more proactive through better awareness of flood risk and preparedness for flooding, and said that reducing the risk of flood damage should be an objective of rural policy in Scotland, and the Scottish Government should seek to promote rural land use solutions as part of its strategy for flood risk management. There was also a recommendation, in what is FIAC’s final report, for a forum, similar to FIAC, to be set up to continue to advise the Scottish Government on flooding matters.

Related news items:

• Action on seasonal workers welcomed
• Action planned on overuse of plastic bags
• Action urged to prevent feathers flying
• Agricultural charity launches awareness campaign
• Agricultural shows get boost