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Floods: North Yorkshire

Volume 463: debated on Monday 3 September 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expenditure by councils affected by recent flooding in North Yorkshire will be covered by the Bellwin formula. (152875)

Authorities who notify the Department of their intention to claim Bellwin grant within one month of the commencement of the emergency will, under the established terms of the scheme, be able to claim grant for all eligible expenditure incurred on immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants, as set out in the legislation governing the scheme. On this occasion, as announced by the Prime Minister on 7 July, 100 per cent. grant will be paid on expenditure in excess of 0.2 per cent. of the authority's revenue budget, an increase on the normal 85 per cent. grant aid. Eligible expenditure up to six months from the commencement of the incident will count for grant, compared to the normal limit of two months.