To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been paid from receipts from the EU Solidarity Fund in respect of flood damage in Nottinghamshire in 2007, broken down by category of expenditure. (224921)

Because of the UK’s success in bidding for the European Union Solidarity Fund the Government were able to set up a Restoration Fund of almost £31 million for English local authorities affected by last summer’s flood to support their continued efforts to rebuild their communities. Nottinghamshire has in total received £786,621 from the Restoration Fund. Bassetlaw district council received £40,438, Newark and Sherwood district council received £20,659 and Nottingham county council received £725,524.

Restoration Fund allocations were unringfenced; this allowed local authorities the discretion to make spending decisions based on their own local knowledge and priorities. Due to the unringfenced nature of the allocations local authorities are not required to inform Government as to how this money was spent.