§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet in a position to give the estimated costs of the damage caused by the storms in October in(a) Essex and (b) the Basildon area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeEssex has estimated that the cost of storm damage to them will be around £8 million. Information for Basildon is not available. Expenditure above a threshold will be eligible for special financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme, or in respect of insurable losses and, where authorities have not insured, additional capital allocations will be available this year for repair works that are capitalised.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet in a position to list, by region, the estimated cost of the damage caused by the storms in October; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeMy Department does not yet have sufficient reliable information to provide such an estimate. We expect the majority of local authorities' storm damage expenditure to be eligible under the Bellwin scheme, and so to qualify for special financial assistance above the threshold, or to be in respect of insurable losses. Where authorities have nevertheless failed to insure, additional capital allocations will be available this year for repair works that are capitalised.