§ Mr. Paul Deanasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an estimate of the percentage of the total cost of flood damage in the West Country which will fall to be met from local authorities' own resources after central grants have been taken into account.
§ Mr. GreenwoodI estimate that less than 43 per cent. of the total cost of repairing and restoring flood-damaged public property and services will fall on the local authorities. As the hon. Member will know, the Government contributed £175,000 to local flood relief funds set up after last July's floods. I estimate that the Government will be contributing more than £1 million towards the cost to local authorities of flood damage repairs.