HC Deb 02 March 1978 vol 945 cc329-30W
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what way any compensation to be paid by the Government in respect of the damage caused by the blizzard and floods recently in the South-West differs from that paid by central Government in respect of the floods in the autumn of 1960, and particularly in respect of (a) damage to residential property, (b) livestock losses, (c) loss of milk production, (d) county council extra expenditure, (e) second-tier local authority extra expenditure, and (f) any other provisions; and which Minister will answer questions on overall compensation details.

Mr. Shore

The information which is readily available does not enable me to give a complete answer to the Question. I shall write to the hon. Member further on this matter. But I can say now that the way in which assistance was provided by the Government in 1960 was different from that in present circumstances, in particular because local authorities did not then have the wide powers to deal with emergencies which they now possess under Section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972.

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