Barbara has written to the Prime Minister to ask him to make an application to the European Union Solidarity Fund to support communities in Salford who have been affected by flooding in early December and following the Boxing Day floods.

European Union member states are entitled to apply for money from the EU Solidarity Fund when a natural disaster causes substantial damage. An application to the emergency fund must be made within 12 weeks of the start of the disaster.

In the past year the EU Solidarity Fund has been accessed by the Governments of Italy, Bulgaria and Romania, who have received more than £40 million following flooding in those countries.

Barbara said:

“The Government’s reluctance to apply for this funding from the EU Solidarity Fund is unacceptable.

“For the last month storms, heavy rainfall and the resulting flooding have devastated homes and businesses across the North West of England, including parts of Salford.

“Communities across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside in the North West have been substantially affected by the flooding and they need additional resources to rebuild their lives, to clean up and to renew infrastructure like roads and bridges.

“I, along with other North West Labour MPs and MEPs, have written to the Prime Minister to ask that the Government applies for these valuable resources from the EU Solidarity Fund immediately. I join my Labour colleagues in urging the Prime Minister to make use of the resources available to support those who have been affected by the floods.”