S4M-03654: Low-risk Scots Overpaying £200 Million Flood Subsidy

That the Parliament believes that householders in low flood-risk areas in Scotland should not be contributing disproportionately toward an annual £200 million subsidy on their home insurance to pay for high-risk parts of the UK; understands that 11% of new buildings in England are built in areas vulnerable to flooding compared with almost none in Scotland or Wales; further understands that less than 5% of existing homes in Scotland are at risk of flooding compared with 23% in England; agrees with David Crichton, who is considered an expert in flood insurance and is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Dundee and Honorary Visiting Professor at University College London, that this subsidy enables continued housing development in high-risk areas in the south east of England, a claim similar to that of Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, who says that householders in Scotland are “effectively subsidising the higher risks in England”, and calls for the insurance of householders in Scotland to proportionately reflect the risk of flooding to their properties.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Richard Lyle

Date Lodged: 17/07/12