Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Year ended 31 July 2009


31. Provisions

Environmental
and legal
£m
Wolseley
Insurance
£m

Restructuring
£m
Other
provisions
£m
Total
£m
At 1 August 2007 42 48 15 25 130
Utilised in the year (1) (15) (16) (3) (35)
Charge for the year 17 49 11 77
New businesses
Exchange differences 1 1 2 2 6
At 31 July 2008 42 51 50 35 178
Utilised in the year (6) (22) (100) (15) (143)
Charge for the year 16 20 354 25 415
Disposal of businesses (1) (106) (1) (108)
Exchange differences 7 8 4 5 24
At 31 July 2009 58 57 202 49 366

Provisions have been analysed between current and non-current as follows:

At 31 July 2009 Environmental
and legal
£m
Wolseley
Insurance
£m

Restructuring
£m
Other
provisions
£m
Total
£m
Current 6 16 79 21 122
Non-current 52 41 123 28 244
Total provisions 58 57 202 49 366
At 31 July 2008 Environmental
and legal
£m
Wolseley
Insurance
£m

Restructuring
£m
Other
provisions
£m
Total
£m
Current 3 15 36 6 60
Non-current 39 36 14 29 118
Total provisions 42 51 50 35 178

Wolseley Insurance provisions represent an estimate, based on historical experience, of the ultimate cost of settling outstanding claims and claims incurred but not reported on certain risks retained by the Group (principally US casualty and global property damage).

The environmental and legal provision includes known and potential legal claims and environmental liabilities arising from past events where it is probable that a payment will be made and the amount of such payment can be reasonably estimated. Included in this provision is an amount of £42 million (2008: £36 million) related to asbestos litigation involving certain Group companies. This amount has been actuarially determined as at 31 July 2009 based on advice from independent professional advisers. Asbestos related litigation is covered by insurance and accordingly an equivalent insurance receivable has been recorded in other receivables (note 21). The provision and the related receivable have been stated on a discounted basis using a long-term discount rate of 4.3 per cent (2008: 4.6 per cent). The level of insurance cover available significantly exceeds the expected level of future claims and no material profit or cash flow impact is expected to arise in the foreseeable future. There were 273 claims outstanding at 31 July 2009 (2008: 293).

Restructuring provisions include provisions for staff redundancy costs, future lease rentals on closed branches and asset write-downs. In determining the provision for onerous leases, the cash flows have been discounted on a pre-tax basis using appropriate government bond rates. The weighted average maturity of these obligations is approximately five years.

Other provisions mainly consist of separation costs relating to the disposal of Stock, rental commitments on vacant properties other than those arising from restructuring actions, dilapidations on leased properties and warranties. The weighted average maturity of these obligations is approximately four years.

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