West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has repeated her call for insurance companies to continue to offer universal flood insurance cover. As serious flooding sweeps the country, the MP called on the insurance companies to conclude a deal with the Government to guarantee cover. After the a series of major UK floods, the Insurance industry and the Government reached an agreement which ensured that companies would offer cover to every home, while Government continued to invest in flood defences. That deal expires next year and many flood affected home owners are anxiously waiting to hear the progress of these negotiations. Harriett commented: “I have been appalled by the way the major players in the industry are threatening to pull away from this agreement if the taxpayer won’t foot the bill. “The Government has committed billions to building permanent flood defences and my constituency has six impressive schemes now in place. “Each scheme adds cumulatively to the resilience of the country forming a network of permanent flood defences. To talk about over £2 billion in flood defence spending as a 'cut' is ridiculous. “It is all additional spending which will protect a further 150,000 homes, reducing risk for insurers. “I know that local people won’t want to see their taxes subsidising the profits of the insurance industry so that homes can be built on flood plains. “I hope that the two parties will soon find a deal which continues to offer cover to flood insurance to affected areas. “It is also important to note that the current floods are more as a result of thunderstorms and flash flooding, in which case all homes are potentially affected, not just those near rivers and streams. It is much harder to protect against this kind of flooding as it is so random.”