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Written question asked by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 26 November 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 29 November 2012. It was answered by Lord Benyon (Conservative) on Friday, 30 November 2012 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Flood Control: Finance

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding has been made available to local authorities to alleviate flood risk in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the cost to the public purse of the repair of flood damage has been in each of the last 10 years.

[130806]

Answer

[holding answer 29 November 2012]: The information is as follows:

Funding to local authorities

The total funding made available to local authorities by DEFRA to alleviate flood risk in 2011-12 in England was £47.3 million and for 2012-13 the total was £57.1 million. DEFRA provides grant in aid funding to local authorities for flood and coastal risk management work and to support new roles and responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010.

£ million
Capital Flood Defence grant in aid
 Funding to support work required under the FWMA
 Total
2011-12
 26.3
 21
 47.3
2012-13
 21.1
 36
 57.1
2013-14
 1—
 36
 —
2014-15
 1—
 36
 —
1 Tba

Capital grant allocations for 2013-14 are currently being determined and will be announced in February 2013.

In addition, local authorities receive funding to support their ongoing flood and coastal erosion risk management activities and costs via Formula Grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Cost of flood damage

The Bellwin scheme provides emergency financial assistance to help local authorities meet uninsurable costs they incur when dealing with the aftermath of an emergency in their area. The amounts that have been paid in respect of the recent major flooding events are:

£ million
2012
 1—
Cumbria 2009 flood
 0.9
September 2008 Floods in Morpeth, Shropshire and Herefordshire
 1.3
Summer 2007 floods
 19
1 Claims being processed

I shall write separately to the hon. Member on the payments made for flood incident damage prior to 2007.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
130806; 554 cc572-4W
Session
2012-13
Subjects
Finance Flood control Floods
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk