PM pledges emergency funds for flood victims
Friday, 6 July 2007 12:00 AM
The prime minister promised to help flood victims, after the insurance industry warned claims from flood damage will total £1.5 billion.
Downing Street has been eager to quash accusations the government was slow to react to the floods in northern England and Gordon Brown will visit flood affected areas this weekend.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Brown said emergency funds would be available to help flood victims and he would do everything in his power to help communities return to normal.
He said: "There will be a comprehensive programme, not just to deal with the immediate problems but also with the recovery.
"We know that more has got to be done - with the clean-up, then to help people in distress, then to get the schools back, then of course to repairs.
Mr Brown said those made homeless by the floods would be able to access emergency aid while more money would be poured into distressed areas.
In a second interview with GMTV, Mr Brown said the first priority must be to help get people back into the homes.
He promised to consult with council leaders "on specific problems", after Hull city council leader Carl Minns claimed it was a "forgotten city".
Mr Brown said he was aware more than 31,000 people have been affected by the floods, 17,000 in Hull.
The prime minister continued: "I really feel sorry for individuals, some of them still staying in temporary accommodation obviously, and we will do what we can, and have been over the last few days doing what we can to help.
"We've got to help people who've got probably big insurance claims, some people are not insured. And I know the funds have been set up - the disaster funds - so we will do something to help them."
Health minister Alan Johnson, who represents Hull, has already visited the flood stricken city, and communities secretary Hazel Blears has toured Sheffield with floods minister John Healey.
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