Floods (North Wales) (Hansard, 19 March 1990)

§ 5. Sir Anthony Meyer
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has been able to make of the cost of the damage resulting from the recent floods in the Towyn area of north Wales.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
It is too early to make an accurate estimate of the expenditure involved, but it will be high. I have made it clear that Government assistance through the Bellwin scheme is available to help local authorities in dealing with this emergency.

§ Sir Anthony Meyer
Is my right hon. Friend aware that the scale of this disaster, which has entirely vanished from the headlines, is far greater than anyone had realised? The money that has been provided, though welcome, is inadequate to meet the needs. People have not merely lost their possessions but have seen the value of their houses fall by many thousands of pounds. Social services are under appalling strain and a pall of gloom hangs over the area. Will my right hon. Friend consider appointing a task force to assess needs and assemble resources and thus restore some morale to the unhappy people of that area?

§ Mr. Walker
While I welcome my hon. Friend's suggestion, the best co-ordinating instrument is the Welsh Office, which is working closely with local authorities. As my hon. Friend knows, we have taken several decisions which in some senses are unique. For example, the usual Bellwin provisions provide for 75 per cent., but we have decided to raise that to 85 per cent. We have people co-ordinating aspects connected with engineering and with 873 social security. I am glad to say that the appeal has gone rather well, and the appeal that I made a few weeks ago to the furniture and carpet industries is producing important results. I assure my hon. Friend that matters are being co-ordinated and that the Welsh Office and I are in close contact with what is happening.

§ Mr. Barry Jones
In support of the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Sir A. Meyer), does the right hon. Gentleman agree that only by visiting the area can one fully comprehend the scale, magnitude and impact of the disaster? The hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West did not exaggerate. I have visited the area, and the memory will stay with me of the council housing estate inundated with 5 ft of sea water and the school that was inundated but miraculously evacuated. With the best will in the world and without entering into a political fight, the sum that the Government have earmarked for compensation is insufficient. Further to the plea of the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West, I ask the right hon. Gentleman to return to his Department and to Cabinet because the chief executive of Colwyn borough council says that up to £3 million will be needed. From what I have seen, that must be right.

§ Mr. Walker
My hon. Friend the Minister of State and I have visited the area and have seen what happened. The first provision is to meet emergency requirements. Lifting the limit to 85 per cent. is more than any previous Government have done in similar disasters, and it is the first time that a Government have contributed to an appeal when there has been no loss of human life. I have met all the local authorities concerned and when they have assessed the costs we shall consult fully with them. Everything suggested by the hon. Gentleman has already been done or is in the process of being done.