HC Deb 05 April 1990 vol 170 cc769-70W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will back new financial measures to assist in the provision of seven days a week creche facilities for families affected by the north Wales sea floods; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker

The provision of such facilities would be a matter for the relevant local authorities to consider.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call a conference of social services officials, health officials, housing officials, voluntary workers and local authority financial officers to review and extend the help and guidance given to sea flood victims of the north Wales coast; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist

My right hon. Friend and I have every reason to believe that the statutory and voluntary agencies have worked effectively together in coping with the effects of the flooding. None of the various bodies concerned has asked for such a conference to be convened.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a further payment of £150,000 to the north Wales sea flood appeal to assist residents with compensation claims; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will visit Rhyl to meet the March flood victims; and what measures he will take to assist those in the Rhyl area who suffered material damage and loss.

Mr. Peter Walker

I have visited the areas of north Wales which suffered the worst flooding, as has my hon. Friend the Minister of State. The Government have already taken exceptional measures in making contributions to the appeal fund for disaster victims and in increasing the rate of grant payable under the Bellwin scheme from 75 per cent. to 85 per cent. of eligible expenditure. I have also provided special assistance to farmers affected by sea water inundation.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the health of victims affected by the north Wales coast sea floods.

Mr. Grist

I understand from Clwyd health authority that there is at present no evidence of outbreaks of disease in the areas affected by the recent severe flooding.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Clwyd county council and borough councils for the north Wales coast to consider further practical and financial measures to help flood victims.

Mr. Peter Walker

I met the local authorities involved during my visit to north Wales on 6 March. Since then my officials have been in close contact with officials of the councils involved, and I have received no request for a further meeting. I have already announced that the Bellwin scheme of special financial assistance will apply to all eligible expenditure incurred by local authorities in dealing with the emergency. Exceptionally, grant will be paid at a rate of 85 per cent. In addition, I have announced a donation of £150,000 to the three appeal funds.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet farmers' leaders to dicuss the impact of the March sea inundation upon farming practice and finances; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker

I have visited the area and been kept fully informed of the impact of sea water flooding of agricultural land. The farmers concerned have been advised of the special assistance I have made available to meet the cost of the remedial treatment to flooded land and of the assistance available under existing grant schemes to help meet other costs.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what further action he will take to assist (i) elderly people affected by the recent sea inundation of the north Wales coast (ii) young children and (iii) parents of children of school age.

Mr. Peter Walker

Consideration is being given to a report from a member of my social services inspectorate who recently visited the affected areas to experience the social problems at first hand.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the cost of flood damage on the north Wales coast after sea inundation in March.

Mr. Peter Walker

It is still too early to make any firm estimates of the cost of flood damage in north Wales.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action his Department is taking to clear the mud contaminated by plutonium from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant deposited in the Towyn area after the February storms.

Mr. Grist

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 2 April, Volume 170, column442.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what radiation monitoring equipment is being sent to Towyn in respect of the mud contaminated by plutonium from the Sellafield nuclear processing plant after the February storms and also in respect of the nuclear dust storm warning issued on 27 February; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist

A mini instrument environmental radiation meter type 6-80 was used to measure external radiation in Towyn and samples of sediment were analysed using a nuclear data high resolution germanium gamma spectrometer. The NRPB's assessment of the impact of the radioactivity in the sediment on the public took into consideration the inhalation of windblown dust and concluded that the resulting doses were only a small fraction of natural background radiation.