To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total cost of the proposal to replace the diesel pumps at Northmoor pumping station with electric pumps; what is the expected amount of grant that would be paid by the Ministry towards the replacement of the pumps; and what proportion of residual costs after grant aid would fall upon the Somerset county council as a levy-paying authority to the National Rivers Authority and Northmoor district drainage board.

The estimated cost of the proposed electric pumps at Northmoor pumping station in the Somerset levels is £415,334 at current prices. If approved, MAFF grant aid would be available at 45 per cent. of eligible costs, with the remainder funded by the National Rivers Authority (NRA) from levies on Somerset county council. The NRA proposals do not envisage any contribution from Northmoor internal drainage board.