§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents of flooding have occurred in the last three years where raw sewage was involved in the contamination of peoples homes and property; and if he will make a statement. [149080]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe la Ht year for which information is available is 1999–2000 when 7,121 properties suffered internal flooding from sewers. In 1998–99 there were 5,202 properties and in 1997–98, there were 7,169.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the maximum amount which water companies can be fined for failing to ensure their customers are protected from flood damage and sewage flooding; how often, and on which companies, such a fine has been imposed in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [149516]
Mr. Robert AinsworthFlood prevention generally is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. As far as sewer flooding is concerned, then are no statutory provisions in existing water and sewerage legislation which provides for the undertakers to be fined for failing to ensure their customers are protected from such flood damage. Nor does legislation provide for fines in the event of sewer flooding.
Under the Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) Regulations 2000, where effluent from sewerage undertaker s sewer enters a customers building the customer is entitled, subject to certain exceptions, to a refund of his sewerage charges for the year, up to a maximum of £1,000, for each occasion on which it happens.
On 6 November 2000 my Department published for consultation a draft Water Bill containing proposals for legislation. These proposals include empowering the Director General of Water Services, Secretary of State and National Assembly for Wales to fine t water company up to 10 per cent. of its turnover if it fails to meet appointment conditions, standards of performance or certain statutory or other obligations. Subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise the Government propose to introduce the Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the impact of the6W November floods on (a) council tax levels and (b) Council Tax Benefit subsidy limitation; and if he will make a statement. [149444]
§ Ms Beverley HughesWe received 24 representations during consultation on the Local Government Finance Settlement 2001–02 concerned with the impact of floods on the flood defence levies and local authority budgets. Four responses were concerned with the overall impact on the authoritys level of council tax. Two responses were concerned with the impact on the council tax benefit subsidy limitation scheme (CTBSL).
Local authorities affected by floods are eligible for funding under the Bellwin scheme. We have increased the grant for this from 85 per cent. to 100 per cent. of eligible costs above a threshold equivalent to 0.2 per cent. of an authoritys annual budget. In addition, the Government have recently announced a package of £11.6 million to pay for the Environment Agencys emergency and repair costs, reducing the costs of flooding being passed on to council taxpayers.
Spending on flood defence is generally a relatively small component of an authoritys total budget requirement. It is up to local authorities to determine their spending priorities in consultation with their taxpayers, taking account of the funding available to them. Flood defence expenditure is no different from other items of expenditure and the Government have decided not to make any allowances within the CTBSL scheme for expenditure on flood defence which is above the increase in flood defence SSA.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will reduce the period taken for a claim to be settled under the Bellwin Scheme. [149441]
§ Ms Beverley HughesAs part of the special measures introduced to deal with the recent adverse conditions, the Department will settle valid claims within 15 working days of receipt of an application. We have also taken steps to encourage interim unaudited claims. Again these will be paid within 15 workings days.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received calling for an extension to the funding available under the Bellwin Scheme to parish and town councils. [149443]
§ Ms Beverley HughesParish and town councils can claim eligible expenditure through their local authority. The local authority can in turn claim from my Department. Two parish councils have been in touch with my Department and were given the information they required.