The Government’s investment programme is based on risk mitigation and where the greatest benefit to people and property can be achieved. The Environment Agency use a consistent set of criteria to prioritise funding for schemes proposed by all risk management authorities, which ensures a fair distribution of funding based on agreed priorities, principles and needs. This includes ensuring that schemes mitigate and compensate for any impacts on natural capital assets, which can be accounted for in the scheme’s benefits whilst maintaining the primary purpose of the scheme. The Government made technical changes to the partnership funding rules in 2020, including an updated approach to funding environmental benefits which encourages more nature-based solutions. The Government’s Call for Evidence is considering several specific changes that could strengthen the assessment of local circumstances in the new investment programme, such as providing further benefit to frequently flooded communities. Central to this is exploring how further benefits could be provided to frequently flooded communities—such as through potential changes to the partnership funding policy, appraisal policy or to the way schemes are prioritised. Following the analysis of the results of the Call for Evidence, the Government will launch a public consultation to invite views on potential changes it wishes to make. Any changes will be published and applied as soon as possible in the current investment programme— the timing of which will be balanced with providing appropriate notice and guidance to enable stakeholders to effectively plan and deliver schemes.