UK on track for EU flood funding

Tewkesbury was badly flooded in July

The UK is likely to receive about £115m from the European Union, to help cover the costs of its summer floods.

The total cost of floods in south-west England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside is estimated at £4bn.

The UK has applied for money from the EU Solidarity Fund to help towards the cost of uninsurable damage like rescue services and temporary accommodation.

It has yet to be approved, but EU commissioner Danuta Hubner said: "I don't expect any surprises there."

Second biggest

A bid was lodged in August for money from the EU Solidarity Fund, which was set up in 2002 and has paid out in 23 cases - this would be the first successful application from the UK.

Ms Hubner, commissioner for the regions, said it was likely the allocation to the UK would be its second biggest payout, after one to cover costs of storms in Germany.

Although the flood waters have receded, the problems for many households, the problems for businesses and the problems for some communities have not gone away. John Healey Floods minister

UK minister for flood relief John Healey said he was pleased the commissioner now had all the information she needed, and would be recommending that the application was approved.

He added: "It will go a good way to helping the costs we have in Britain, towards seeing the areas which have been so hard hit by the floods in the summer, recover.

"And of course, although the flood waters have receded, the problems for many households, the problems for businesses and the problems for some communities have not gone away."

He said the government's job, supported by the grant, was to put in place support to allow people to get "back on their feet".

The money will not go towards costs borne by insurers - such as costs of damaged homes and cars.

Instead it will go towards reimbursing costs for things like emergency repairs to gas, water, electricity services and phone lines as well as temporary accommodation for victims, funding rescue services and general cleaning up.

It has to be spent within 12 months and will have to be accounted for in detail.

The money still needs to be approved by the EU parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers. Ms Hubner said it was likely the payout would be made "early next year".