New taskforce to boost Britain’s resilience to flooding and drought
Defra is launching a Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce, which meets for the first time on Wednesday 14 October 2026 and brings Floods and Drought Minister Emma Hardy together with more than 50 organisations, including the Environment Agency, Met Office, mayoral authorities, fire and rescue services and the farming, water and insurance industries. Its first meeting will assess preparedness for winter flooding and lessons from the ongoing drought. The government says £1.4 billion is being spent on flood defences in 2026/27.