11th July 2007 - Flooding: Linda raises Yorkshire's plight in Strasbourg

As Yorkshire continues to struggle to come to terms with the impact of recent flooding, Euro-MP Linda McAvan will tonight speak in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to push for clarification on what European money may be available to help with the recovery effort, as MEPs discuss extreme weather conditions across Europe.

Ms McAvan, who lives in Sheffield and has an office in Rotherham, raised two weeks ago the possibility of the government tapping in to the EU's emergency solidarity fund. On Monday, the Secretary of State Hazel Blears said that the government was looking at this urgently.

Linda McAvan said;

"The whole of the north of England suffered as a result of the flooding two weeks ago, but the Yorkshire and the Humber region that I represent has been particularly badly hit. Businesses and homeowners quite understandably want to know what their politicians can do to help, and there is a real need to release money quickly to those affected. The decision as to whether or not to apply to the solidarity fund lies with the government, but I hope that one way or another we will be able to use EU spending to help those in the region who need it most."