To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated cost to the public purse is of the changes to the Bellwin scheme outlined in her statement of 9 July 2007, Official Report, column 1189, on flooding (England). (152890)

It is too early to estimate the level of costs to local authorities arising out of the recent floods which might be eligible for Bellwin funding. Under the special arrangements for this scheme, authorities are able to claim for eligible costs incurred up to six months after the flooding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the changes to the Bellwin scheme outlined in her statement of 9 July 2007, Official Report, column 1189, on flooding (England), will only apply to claims made in relation to the recent flooding incidents. (152891)

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have notified her Department of their intention to apply for Bellwin scheme funding following the recent floods. (153497)

The following authorities had notified an intention to claim for the flooding events in June by the closing date of 31 July:

Amber Valley Borough Council

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Bassetlaw District Council

Bolsover District Council

Bridgnorth District Council

Chesterfield Borough Council

Derbyshire County Council

Derbyshire Combined Fire Authority

Derbyshire Dales District Council

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

East Lindsey District Council

Erewash Borough Council

Gedling Borough Council

Gloucestershire County Council

Harrogate Borough Council

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue

High Peak Borough Council

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service

Humberside Police Authority

Kingston upon Hull City Council

Leeds City Council

Lichfield District Council

Lincoln City Council

Lincolnshire County Council

Newark and Sherwood District Council

North East Derbyshire District Council

North East Lincolnshire Council

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Pendle BC

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Scarborough Borough Council

Sheffield City Council

Shropshire County Council

South Shropshire District Council

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority

South Yorkshire Police Authority

Stafford Borough Council

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Warwick District Council

Warwickshire County Council

Wakefield City Council

West Mercia Police Authority

West Lindsey District Council

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Worcestershire County Council

Wyre Forest District Council

Authorities have until the end of August to notify incidents occurring in July. To date the following authorities have done so:

Bridgnorth District Council

Cheltenham Borough Council

Cotswold District Council

Derbyshire Combined Fire Authority

Gloucestershire County Council

Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire Authority

Lichfield District Council

Scarborough Borough Council

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council

South Shropshire District Council

Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Tewkesbury Borough Council

Warwick District Council

Warwickshire County Council

West Mercia Police Authority

West Oxfordshire District Council

Wokingham District Council

Worcestershire County Council

Wychavon District Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether expenditure by a local authority on a local council tax discount under the Local Government Act 2003 for victims of flooding is eligible for funding under the Bellwin scheme. (153504)

The statutory power for Bellwin grant is section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This section only permits the Secretary of State to provide financial assistance in respect of expenditure incurred by a local authority. Reductions in income arising out of council tax foregone are therefore not eligible for Bellwin grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes have been made to the operation of the Bellwin Scheme since May 1997. (153508)

On 7 July the Prime Minister announced special changes to the Bellwin scheme for the June floods to make it easier for local councils to claim back additional costs. These changes allow local authorities to reclaim 100 per cent. of their costs above threshold (up from 85 per cent.) and to claim costs incurred in the six months following the incident (up from two months). We have also invited local authorities to make interim claims before the expiry of the six months qualifying expenditure period.

A further Bellwin scheme has been activated in respect of the July floods, incorporating the same special changes.