Weather: Damage

(asked on 15th December 2022) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities of dealing with damage caused by the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather due to climate change.


Answered by
Lee Rowley Portrait
Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
This question was answered on 23rd December 2022

Local authorities have a crucial role to play in managing climate impacts at the local level. The upcoming National Adaptation Programme by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs due next year will respond to the 61 risks and opportunities set out in the Climate Change Risk Assessment earlier this year. The Programme will set out how we are working together with local authorities to adapt to climate impacts.

The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2023/24 makes available an additional £5 billion to councils in England, an increase of 9% in cash terms compared to 2022/23. Taking 2022/23 and 2023/24 together, we have increased the funding available to local government in England in real terms. The majority of this funding is un-ringfenced in recognition of local authorities being best placed to understand local priorities, including dealing with extreme weather.

For councils in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the respective devolved administrations may hold this information.

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