CUMBRIA’S case for increased flood protection was once again made in Parliament.

MP Tim Farron led the debate, calling for further investment to make the county more resilient.

He suggested Cumbria, the wettest county in England, should be treated as a special case.

“It’s not a question of if it will flood but when and how severely,” he said.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP outlined the devastating impact of Storm Desmond before urging the Government on a three-fold course of action.

He said: “In light of these widespread and long-term impacts, both personally and economically, it is in both the national and local interest that the Government should significantly invest in preventing a repeat of this devastation.”

He asked the floods minister for emergency funding to safeguard unprotected communities - a point backed by Workington MP Sue Hayman.

She said there are no significant flood alleviation projects in the pipeline for the Derwent river catchment - despite it being flooded multiple times over the last 10 years - because it doesn’t qualify under the current funding formula rules.

“We really need a serious and thorough review of the funding formula in order that our constituents, all of them, can be properly protected as well as those in other rural areas that fall foul of the current system,” said Mrs Hayman.

Mr Farron, who was also supported by Barrow MP John Woodcock, said a fundamental change was needed as the funding formula currently focuses on the value of assets.

“This favours wealthier communities and parts of the country where house prices are higher and homes are more densely built. It dilutes any consideration as to how likely an area is to flood. The system of clarification is frankly not fit for purpose,” he said.

The MP called for it to take into account the effect of climate change leading to more extreme and frequent weather events. He also challenged the floods minister to hold water companies to account to a 1 in 100 year standard for drainage systems to protect communities from surface water flooding.

Floods minister Therese Coffey said flood and coastal risk management was a priority for the Government and that she was acutely aware of the impacts it has on people’s lives.

The Government, she said, was “putting in robust, long-term national strategies to protect communities” and highlighted a £2.6bn investment for flood defences over six years.

The minister said: “The current investment programme is due to protect over 300,000 more homes. I’m conscious all of that is not in Cumbria but I’m sure members, whilst fighting for their constituents needs, will recognise the Government has to consider projects right across the country.

“It’s not possible in this current programme to deliver every scheme that would reduce flood risk but I can assure the members her that I’m fully alive to the issues raised in Cumbria.”

She added that the funding formula gives a boost to less prosperous parts of the country.