§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to give the latest estimates of the costs incurred by local authorities in dealing with storm damage incurred in October both in total and for each authority showing(a) the total expenditure incurred, (b) expenditure up to the Bellwin scheme threshold, (c) grant lost by the authority for expenditure up to the Bellwin scheme threshold, and (d) expenditure above the Bellwin scheme threshold, gross and net of specific grant.
§ Mr. RidleyMy Department does not yet have sufficiently reliable information available to provide the estimates requested. I have already told the House that I expect the cost to be met largely from special financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme or from extra capital allocations which will be made available.