In response to the report from Sir Michael Pitt concerning the UK's flood defences, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has claimed steps to improve the existing safeguards would be beneficial to companies which offer home insurance.

Graeme Trudgill, technical and corporate affairs executive of the association, believes the industry would benefit from improvements in preparation coupled with more accurate flood mapping.

The joining up of different government agencies and relevant bodies taking responsibility for defences, which was not the case last summer, as well as more accurate flood warnings are important, he claimed.

"Flood mapping is really important for the insurance industry to help us understand what the potential problems are, which homes are safe and which homes aren't so safe," Mr Trudgill said.

Sir Michael's report included recommendations such as monthly summaries of progress during the recovery phase of major flooding events and pre-planned financial arrangements in place for responding to the financial burden of exceptional emergencies.

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