My letter to David Cameron on delays in compensation for North West flood victims

Rt Hon David Cameron

Prime Minster of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

7th April 2016

Dear Prime Minister,

Re: EU compensation for North West flood victims

I am writing regarding reports that that the European Commission have yet to assess a UK bid for EU solidarity funding to help repair flood damage to homes and businesses in the North West, because they are still waiting for information from the British government.

As you know in December the North West of England was hit by severe flooding. Parts of the region saw record levels of rainfall, with some areas receiving the equivalent of a month’s rainfall in just two days.

Faced with this barrage, flood defences failed, thousands of homes were flooded and many more are without electricity, just weeks before Christmas.

In December, along with other Labour North West MEPs, I wrote to you urging you to apply for EU Solidarity Funding which is used to help EU member states repair the damage done by natural disasters like flooding.

It has been estimated that the UK could receive as much as £1.7bn in compensation for the damage done last year.

After of pressure from MEPs and MPs and weeks of delay, last month your government finally announced you would be applying for solidarity funding to compensate flood victims.

But yesterday it was been announced that the EU cannot process the UK’s bid for compensation because three months later, it is still waiting for information from government ministers.

It’s disgraceful that the government is dragging its feet on applying for funding to compensate those who were victims of flooding.

Especially when if ministers had acted faster, as much as £23m could have been available now to those families and businesses affected. Instead they have been left empty handed.

I urge you to get a grip of this situation and finalise the UK’s application for funding to help communities devastated by the floods, so that those affected by the flooding can get the help they need to rebuild their lives.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Afzal Khan MEP

Labour MEP for the North West of England