§ 42. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to institute a compulsory insurance scheme against damage by flooding for householders financed by local authorities, in view of the hardship suffered by householders through frequent floodings caused by inadequate provision for drainage by public authorities.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineNo. Damage to private property from flooding can, like that caused by fire and the more generally accepted household perils, be covered by insurance at very little extra cost. It is the Government's view that the cost of insuring their property should be met by householders themselves and not by the taxpayers.