Clock Ticking On Flood Fund Application - Farron

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron is due to send out 40,000 petitions across his constituency, calling on local residents to join his campaign urging the government to apply for EU funds which could provide millions of pounds to help rebuild after the floods.

EU Solidarity Funding exists to help member states who have been hit by a major natural disaster, and the UK has in the past received significant amounts of money to help rebuild infrastructure and deal with the costs of flood damage. Tim has repeatedly written to ministers and pressed them in parliament to apply for this money, but the government has given no indication that it will do so.

The government must apply for to the EU within 12 weeks of the floods first hitting. However, David Cameron said in parliament on Tuesday that it would be "quicker and better to give people the help they need from our own resources."

With accountancy firm KPMG now estimating the total cost of the flood damage at £5bn, the UK could be eligible for up to £125 million of funding from the EU Solidarity fund, of which 10% would be made available immediately. In 2007, the UK received £134 million from this fund to help deal with the aftermath of floods.

Tim will be sending out 40,000 petitions to households across South Lakeland calling on the government to apply for EU Solidarity Funding. To sign the petition, click here: www.timfarron.co.uk/eufunding

Tim said: " The clock is ticking as an application must be submitted within twelve weeks. It is ridiculous that the government has not yet applied for this funding. We contribute to this fund, and are entitled to draw from it in times of need.

"This would secure millions of pounds to help rebuild areas that have been hit by flooding, yet the Conservatives are more interested in scoring political points with their own Eurosceptic backbenchers than in securing funds for flood-hit areas.

"If Cameron wants to claim that it would be 'quicker and better' to use our own money, then he needs to back this up by making the funds available. Across South Lakeland, there are too many examples to list of roads, bridges and other infrastructure in urgent need of repair, and so far the government has only provided £40millon of the £500million needed to restore Cumbria's infrastructure."