Months before Euro cash decision says Minister

Damage caused by June's disaster means the region could qualify for millions of pounds of financial help from European coffers, according to Floods Recovery Minister John Healey.

But he says that, while a preliminary application has already been submitted to Brussels, it still needs firming up and it could be several months before a final decision is made on how much the region could get.

The European Union Solidarity Fund was set up to help victims of natural disasters such as flooding.

It can be used to meet non-insurable costs such as the use of emergency services, cleaning up a disaster zone, and rebuilding its infrastructure.

Mr Healey, MP for Wentworth, said: " A provisional assessment is estimated at more than 4 billion Euro - significantly above the 3 billion Euro threshold required for a member state to make an application.

"We are currently working to refine the detailed estimates. Work to firm up the details of the application and to respond to initial questions from the Commission continues, and decisions by the Commission on fund applications may take some months."

Mr Healey has revealed 18 million has now been released by the Government to help flooded areas recover from the disaster.

"The funding has been provided to local authorities without conditions on use, to allow them to decide how best it should be distributed according to local needs," he said.

"Many local authorities have used the grants to make payments - either automatic or on application - to households affected by the flooding.

"Some local authorities have provided a mixed approach of payments and replacement of white goods, again based on locally agreed criteria."