Select Committee for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
House of Commons select committees generally examine the work of government departments, with a select committee for each government department, examining spending, policies and administration. Some select committees have a role that crosses departmental boundaries and some are involved in on-going investigations of specific issues. Select committees are made up of Members of Parliament selected from the political parties in proportion to the representation of those parties in the House.
The Commons Select Committee for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and its associated public bodies. The Committee chooses its own subjects of inquiry on environmental and agricultural subjects.
On 24 January 2017, the committee published Future flood prevention: Government's response to the Committee's Second Report of Session 2016-17. The report criticised the government for not taking up the recommendations of their previous report Future flood prevention and called on the Department to provide greater safeguards and assurance to local communities through stronger planning rules and improvements to flood insurance coverage. It also suggested the government should develop robust long-term plans and fundamentally overhaul the governance and streamline the delivery of flood risk management.
Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Acting Chair of the Committee, said: “Defra has failed to give sufficient justification for its rejection of our recommendations for important new measures to improve flood protection. Ministers must give us more detailed information on how the Government is using its £2.5 billion flood defence budget to slow the flow of water across river catchments so as to stop communities flooding in future. Ministers must also update us on their actions to ensure that the insurance, planning and building regulation regimes reduce flood risk and improve property resilience."
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- All party parliamentary group.
- Cabinet committee.
- Catchment flood management plans.
- Flood and Water Management Act
- Flood insurance.
- Flood risk
- Flood risk management plans.
- Future flood prevention.
- House of Lords Select Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment.
- Pitt Review.
- River engineering.
- Select committee for the built environment.
- Select committee.
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”