§ 60. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the basis on which grants have been made to local authorities in connection with flood relief measures taken as a result of the floods in Kent in September, 1968.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonGrants have been offered where the net cost of repairing flood-damaged services and of first-aid relief measures in the private sector, after allowing for any specific grants which the expenditure might attract, represents an undue rate burden. In this context my right hon. Friend considered that local authorities could reasonably be expected to bear the equivalent of a net 2d. rate without special assistance. Where the net expenditure exceeded this level, the excess attracted a 75 per cent. grant.