§ 29. Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what correspondence he has had with Ealing Borough Council about the need to invoke Section 138(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 to compel the Greater London Council to make grants to residents of the borough who have suffered flood damage.
§ Mr. FreesonNone. Section 138(2) gives local authorities a discretionary power to make grants to flood victims, but does not empower my right hon. Friend to compel them to do so.