Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution by the Prime Minister of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 1116W, what assessment he has made of the cost of flooding damage to (a) householders and (b) small businesses in the UK from the beginning of the financial year 2013 which will become eligible for support under the (i) council tax relief, (ii) business rate relief, (iii) business support relief, (iv) repair and renewal grant and (v) severe weather recovery schemes; and what estimate he has made of the number of additional claims made under each such scheme as a result of this extended eligibility.

I can confirm that this is under active consideration. My officials are currently assessing the impacts of flooding throughout the financial year 2013/14 and the likely costs of extending the recovery funding schemes.