Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much of the Government's Business Rates Relief Fund for flooded businesses has been (a) allocated to local authorities and (b) received by businesses to date.

As at 2 June 2014, 979 businesses were in receipt of a business rates relief from their local authority as a result of the impact of flooding. There are no set or advance allocations to councils. The fund works by councils retrospectively claiming back the cost of the business rate relief (in the same way, for example, as the Bellwin Scheme has always worked). 66 local authorities recently submitted claims for reimbursement; the deadline for applications was 26 May. Subject to data checking, we expect reimbursement payments in the region of £4 million to be made shortly.

Further information on the available flood support schemes is available on the gov.uk website at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/flood-support-package-for-homeowners-and-businesses