Lord Smith: Environment Agency 'bound by Treasury rules'

Environment Agency chair Lord Smith has told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his staff know "100 times more about flood risk management than any politician ever does".

He made his comments after Eric Pickles, the stand-in floods minister, said the agency had given bad advice over flooding and tried to divide town and country over flood funding.

Lord Smith added that he was "bound by the rules that are laid down by the government [and the Treasury]" over spending on each individual flood defence scheme.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday 10 February.