§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of special aid payable to local authorities for snow clearance, gritting and frost damage following the severe winters of 1977–78 and 1978–79; what was the counties' estimated total extra expenditure for these items; what proportion of the total claim was paid in each year; and if he will give, so far as they are available, comparable figures for 1981–82.
§ Mr. Giles ShawSpecial financial aid was made available to local authorities who would otherwise have suffered an undue financial burden as a result of emergency conditions in the winters of 1977–78 and 1978–79. In 1977–78, the emergency was caused by blizzards, storms and flooding, and in 1978–79 by prolonged snow and frost. In each case, authorities were eligible for 75 per cent. special grant on their net additional expenditure arising from the emergency and in excess of the product of an inclusive penny rate.
The total additional expenditure by authorities who qualified for the special assistance, and the payments made, were as follows: 428W
£ 1977–78 Emergency expenditure 4,690,209 Payments made 1,180,807 1978–79 Emergency expenditure 29,928,923 Payments made 7,346,991 Details are not available for authorities who did not qualify for the special assistance.
It is too soon to estimate comparable figures for the 1981–82 emergency.
§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give further details of the special aid promised for local authorities to meet the cost of snow clearance, gritting, and weather damage; and whether provision is being made to exclude the cost from local authority expenditure for the purpose of grant penalties.
§ Mr. Giles ShawA letter giving full details was sent to local authorities on 12 February.
Local authorities will be entitled to claim grant of 75 per cent. of their net additional expenditure in excess of the product of a penny inclusive rate. Net additional expenditure on work completed by 31 March 1982 which is directly attributable to the emergency created by the severe weather will be eligible. Expenditure by authorities under the powers contained in section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 may be included, except for expenditure in respect of losses which would normally be insurable.
We intend that authorities should not suffer block grant penalties in 1981–82 as a result of extra expenditure arising from the severe weather. Authorities will be allowed to deduct such expenditure duly certified from the total of current expenditure for 1981–82 against which their performance in relation to volume targets will be measured. It will also be deductible from their expenditure in order to calculate whether total expenditure is below their grant related expenditure for the purpose of securing exemption from grant abatement.