asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement regarding Government financial assistance to individuals and local authorities affected by the floods in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding his decision on assistance to local authorities in Wales to repair damage caused by the recent floods.

As has already been announced, local authorities whose additional expenditure exceeds the product of a penny rate will receive 75 per cent. grant on that excess. I shall be issuing detailed provisions about this in an early circular, which should enable a full assessment to be made of the financial scale of the damage. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State has met representatives of the local authorities and I am giving careful consideration to what they have said.As regards individuals, some 960 of the affected householders in Wales have received immediate aid totalling about £30,000 in social security. Assistance from the EEC's disaster fund will also be available, and I have asked district councils to let me have figures for this purpose. Individuals whose homes were flooded may apply to their district councils for assistance from the fund.