§ Sir Raymond GowerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest information concerning the damage caused by the recent storms floods to farms and to houses and other properties, respectively; and what assistance he may give for uninsurable losses sustained by the persons affected.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMy latest information is that about 600 residential and over 100 commercial and industrial properties were affected by the recent flooding in southwest and north Wales. However, reports from different sources are still be reconciled. Damage to farms has mostly been confined to hedges, banks, walls, culverts and farm access roads, whilst stock losses of 140 sheep, 60 cattle and 300 poultry were reported. Crop losses are minimal.
On the question of assistance, I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on 21 October, at column 745, in which I indicated that I would be making available special financial assistance to local authorities whose eligible additional expenditure, excluding insurable losses, exceeded a defined threshold. There is no special Government assistance available to individuals suffering uninsurable losses.