§ Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he has been notified of the damage caused by the flooding of domestic properties in the city of Wakefield on 1 June and 9 December 1983, respectively; and by which authority the cost of such damage has been monitored;
(2) if he has been notified of the damage caused by the flooding of commercial properties in the city of Wakefield on 1 June and 9 December 1983, respectively; and by which authority the cost of such damage was monitored;
(3) if he has been notified of the damage caused by the flooding of industrial properties in the city of Wakefield on 1 June and 9 December 1983, respectively; and by which authority the cost of such damage was monitored.
§ Mrs. FennerWe have been notified by Wakefield metropolitan district council of the damage caused but not the precise extent or cost.
§ Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions the Wakefield metropolitan district council has applied for grants to alleviate flooding in Wakefield annually since 1976.
§ Mrs. FennerNo formal applications have been received from the Wakefield metropolitan district council.
§ Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what capital work expenditure has been carried out by the Yorkshire water authority to alleviate flooding annually in the Wakefield metropolitan district council area since 1976.
§ Mrs. FennerI understand that capital expenditure by the Yorkshire water authority in the area of the Wakefield metropolitan district council has been as follows: 465W
£ 1981–82 68,000 1982–83 43,000 1983–84 6,000 Yorkshire water authority has also carried out certain capital works outside the Wakefield metropolitan district council area which will have benefited the area.
§ Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy towards making grants for schemes submitted by Wakefield metropolitan district council for relief of flooding in residential areas;
(2) what is his policy towards making grants for schemes submitted by Wakefield metropolitan district council for relief of flooding in commercial areas;
(3) what is his policy towards making grants for schemes submitted by Wakefield metropolitan district council for relief of flooding in industrial areas.
§ Mrs. Fenner[pursuant to her reply, 2 April 1984, c. 400]: Within the overall constraints on public expenditure we are willing to consider applications for grant under the Land Drainage Act 1976 for schemes that are tehcnically sound, of reasonable cost, economically worthwhile and that satisfy the necessary environmental considerations.