Flood victims face land tax will increase to buy defences

The money collected would be wont to buy strengthening flood defences.

Plans to permit native authorities to boost the levy area unit presently being thought of by ministers.

Environment Secretary Liz Truss same county, wherever native authorities are able to increase taxes one.25 per cent to bolster defences, could be a "very good" model" obvious to MPs.

In total, six authorities area unit allowed to raise land tax by one.25 per cent on top of the cap of 2 per cent in 2016-17.

But currently it's as if the theme might be extended more.

When asked by MPs, Ms Truss said: "I assume if you investigate the structure for the county Rivers Authority that currently has the shadow precept so that they area unit raising that funding domestically and that i assume there is conjointly a task for that in addition.

"I assume the county Rivers Authority could be a superb model."

It comes as Storm Jonas continues to batter the country, triggering nevertheless a lot of flood alerts in several areas.

Thousands of homes in royalty, Cumbria and alternative components of northern European nation and Wales are flooded in recent weeks when significant precipitation.

Ms Truss told the Commons atmosphere Committee that troops and temporary flood defences were being sent to assist wear down the newest state of affairs.

The Government has pledged virtually £200million to assist folks hit by earlier floods, together with £100 million to owners and businesses.

Local authorities area unit distributing £46m of the funds.

The allow maintaining flood defences is £171m for the twelvemonth to 2016.

And is 'protected in real terms' over the course of the Parliament, which suggests it'll rise in line with inflation.

But Labour peer Lord Clark of Windermere said: "Flood defences area unit primarily a national responsibility and also the Government should not simply pass the buck on to native authorities and successively to native taxpayers."