§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will grant money to Clwyd county council as compensation for its unforeseen outlay consequent upon the anthrax outbreak at Llay; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsExpenditure associated with local government's animal health responsibilities has been allowed for in the 1989–90 rate support grant settlement 659W and reflected in Clwyd county council's grant-related expenditure assessment for the rate support grant purposes.
Local authorities have discretionary powers to incur expenditure on unforeseen incidents such as the anthrax outbreak and would normally include an amount in their budgets for such contingencies.
The Government recognise that it would be unreasonable for substantial extra expenditure incurred in exceptional circumstances to fall wholly upon ratepayers. Consequently, the Bellwin scheme, which is designed to deal with extraordinary costs arising from emergencies, allows for the provision of special financial assistance to local authorities in certain circumstances. We are ready to consider a detailed and fully costed application. But, on the information available to the Department we do not believe that the scale of additional expenditure in this instance would justify use of the scheme.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet members of Clwyd county council and officials to discuss the financial impact of the 1989 anthrax outbreak.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNo.