Calls to suspend Enviroment Agency cuts

Professional union, Prospect has urged the government to suspend its job cuts at the Environment Agency in the light of the recent widespread flooding.

The Agency has confirmed that it will be cutting 1,500 jobs including some from flood protection as part of the government’s latest round of austerity cuts.

Although it is unclear which area of the organisation will see the job losses but the union claims that 550 jobs related to flood protection could be lost.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said the agency was making its own choices about "how best to use their resources".

Speaking after today's emergency Cobra meeting, environment minister, Owen Paterson, said frontline flood defence services were not expected to be part of the agency's cut backs.

"Like all departments, this department has had to make efficiencies given the dire financial position we inherited when we came to office." Said Mr Paterson.

He continued: "I had a meeting this morning with the chief executive of the Environment Agency. He has assured me he has every intention of protecting front-line services concerned with flooding."

Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, Leslie Manasseh said: "Last week David Cameron praised Environment Agency staff for doing an amazing job with the floods and extreme weather. It's typical that as soon as there is a crisis, the politicians immediately turn to the specialists and professionals with the scientific knowledge and skills to step in and protect the public.

"Yet they expect the managers running such vital services to be forced to focus on how to make cuts, diverting them from their vital work providing flood warnings, repairing damage, maintaining flood defences and planning ahead for future crises of this nature.

"We urge the government to stop these cuts in their tracks and call an immediate review. They need to learn the lessons of the experiences of this winter, which have had such a devastating impact on so many people."

The agency is also responsible for tackling waste pollution and prosecuting businesses and individuals that damage the environment.