A DISTRICT MP is demanding that the Government sets out what it has done to protect the region since last year's devastating Boxing Day floods.

Philip Davies said the Environment Secretary must address MPs before the Christmas break and confirm what arrangements are in place to deal with future flooding in the case of torrential downpours.

Homes and businesses in parts of Mr Davies' Shipley constituency, including Crossflatts, were badly hit last year and some are still struggling to recover.

"It is almost the first anniversary of the Boxing Day floods which devastated my constituency and large parts of West Yorkshire," he told the Commons.

"I want a statement to explain what has been done over the past year to prevent any further such flooding and what arrangements are in place to ensure a rapid response from authorities – including local authorities – if such terrible floods happen again on bank holidays over the Christmas period."

Authorities were heavily criticised for failing to act quickly enough and providing insufficient support following last year's floods.

Leader of the Commons, David Lidington, said: "Each area now has a designated local authority that has a lead responsibility for co-ordinating flood management and the response to flooding.

"The Government has also ensured in its response to more recent floods in the north-west and south-west of England that money is released at a much earlier stage than has sometimes been the case.

"Spending on flood management continues and we recently published a flood resilience strategy that sets out a plan for the longer-term future."

He added that he would raise Mr Davies' concerns with the Department and he should receive more detailed information about his constituency.