§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of his latest estimate of the total cost to public funds of the foot and mouth outbreak; and if she will make a statement. [31593]
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated final cost is of the foot and mouth epidemic. [28745]
§ Margaret BeckettI refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Lord Whitty, in another place, 4 February 2002,Official Report (House of Lords), column WA65.
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§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place for the extension of rate relief to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [36485]
§ Dr. WhiteheadLocal authorities can give discretionary rate relief to any business suffering hardship. Many authorities have used this power to give rate relief to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. Normally, the Government meets 75 per cent. of the cost of such relief. However, special arrangements have been in place during 2001–02 whereby the Government have met 95 per cent. or 98 per cent. of the cost of hardship rate relief granted by 151 rural local authorities to small businesses affected by food and mouth disease. As part of the Government's response to the rural task force report on 13 December 2001, we announced that these arrangements would be extended to 31 March 2002. A special grant report giving effect to that extension will be laid before the House shortly. The Government have no plans to extend these arrangements beyond 2001–02, but local authorities will retain their powers to grant hardship relief, with 75 per cent. of the cost met centrally.