§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1), in the light of the floods of 11th January, whether he remains satisfied that Section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 provides sufficient guarantee of central Government support to enable local authorities to give emergency relief; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report payments requested by local authorities under Section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 and refused by his Department; and if he will express this amount as a percentage of the total sum agreed and reimbursed;
(3) how long, on average, it takes his Department to decide on applications made for reimbursement under Section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972; and how long, on average, it takes to make the payments;
(4) if he will give details of annual payments made to local authorities under Section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972.
§ Mr. Peter ShoreSection 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 empowers local authorities to take action and to incur expenditure, without my prior con316W sent, to alleviate the effects of emergencies or disasters in their areas.
As soon as practicable afterwards, the authorities are required to notify me of the action taken under the section; I may then direct an authority to cease or modify that action. To date, it has not been necessary for me to exercise this power of direction.
There is no provision under this section for reimbursement of expenditure incurred. The information requested by the hon. Member is therefore not available.
However, as I indicated in my answer on 27th January 1978 to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler)—[Vol. 942, c. 810–11]—the Government are ready to consider the case for special financial assistance to local authorities affected by the recent floods to lighten the burden which would otherwise fall on their ratepayers. I have invited authorities to submit claims urgently.