Insurers want flood defences soon

Part of England and Wales were hit by summer flooding

Improvements to flood defences should be brought forward, the insurance industry has urged the government.

The Association of British Insurers said it wanted to see risks from river, coastal and surface flooding minimised as quickly as possible.

The government spends £570m a year improving and building flood defences, but has pledged to increase this to £800m by 2010/11.

Severe flooding hit parts of England and Wales in July.

100 days

After a meeting with Flood Recovery Minister John Healey and other officials on Tuesday, the ABI said that since the flooding in Hull, Sheffield, Doncaster and surrounding areas about 100 days ago, insurers had dealt with more than 130,000 claims for damage to homes, businesses and motor vehicles.

It added that the cost of the claims in both the North and around Gloucestershire is likely to add up to more than £3bn, but the overall total would not be known for many months.

Premises were still drying out, with repairs yet to be done, ABI director general Stephen Haddrill said.

"The insurance industry is doing everything possible to help. But we warned ministers that, in many cases, more haste could mean less speed and the process of recovery will be a long haul lasting well into 2008 for some."

After the meeting, Mr Healey said recovery was a long process, with the government's review continuing.

"Over the coming weeks and months government will continue to work closely with local agencies as well as the insurance industry to ensure everything possible is being done to get life back to normal and everyone back in their homes as quickly as possible.

"This won't happen overnight but everyone is in this for the long haul."