Downing Street Says

Asked if anything in particular on floods came out of Cabinet, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) replied that the main issue in relation to floods in the last 24 hours or so was the Walham power station, where there was quite significant concern about whether or not it could be defended during the course of yesterday. There was a number of ministerial meetings of COBRA yesterday, going on very late into the night, a Prime Ministerial meeting this morning, and an update on the situation to Cabinet. The main issue was not only what we can do to defend the situation at Walham, but also what were the contingency arrangements that needed to be put in place should the Walham station be flooded and electricity be lost in the Gloucester area.

Asked what time COBRA met this morning and whether more meetings were planned, the PMS replied that COBRA met at 07:45 this morning. There had been officials’ meetings throughout the course of the day, there were no planned Ministerial meetings at this point, but this would be kept under constant review.

Asked if we were thinking of applying for European Union financial assistance, the PMS replied that this certainly was something under consideration. This was something that would normally happen after the event, once the case had been made and it had been set out how we meet relative criteria. Journalists should check with DCLG but it was his understanding that this was not something that normally happened in real time.

Asked if there was a trigger in the amount of losses, the PMS replied that he understood that there was a trigger, but best to check with DCLG for the exact details.

Put that the Prime Minister said yesterday that Councils would be reimbursed for 100% of their emergency outlay, and asked whether this figure had been upped from an original 85%, the PMS replied that when we had the floods in the north of England a few weeks ago, the rules were changed so that Councils would get 100% rather than 85%, and the Prime Minister said that this would also apply to local authorities affected by the most recent floods.

Put that there seemed to be a problem of clean water in some areas, and asked if the Prime Minister was prepared to do whatever it took to make sure that everybody in the flood areas had access to clean water, the PMS replied that the floods that we had seen had been 1 in 150 year events with a months downfall of rain happening in one or two hours. The Prime Minister had made clear to the Gold Commander in Gloucester and other people on the ground that he would give whatever support they thought was necessary, and all options were being looked at. But these were decisions that were best taken at the local level as they were in the best place to judge what was required in their areas, and there was no doubt that they had the full support of the Prime Minister in getting what they needed.

Asked what the terms were under which we would apply for EU relief, the PMS replied that it was the EU Solidarity Fund, but again asked journalists to speak to DCLG for details.

Asked for a guesstimate of sums involved, the PMS replied that we did not have a particular figure, but clearly the insurance industries would be the main source for the figures on overall costs. In so far as the costs that fall on the public sector were concerned, we had said we would compensate local authorities. This was demand led, so was difficult to put a figure on. The Prime Minister also said yesterday that we would consider what more we could do to help those directly affected by the floods.

Asked if we had had any briefing on threats to the capital, the PMS replied that clearly there had been concerns raised about issues in relation to the Thames in the Oxford & Reading areas, but it was not for him to offer flood warnings or make statements about these matters. Barbara Young had given quite a comprehensive interview on these matters on Sky earlier today. It was best to refer back to her statements.

Asked on the EU Solidarity Fund if we were saying that nobody had given any thought to it, the PMS repaid that people had given it thought. But the immediate priority was to get on and help people on the ground. And that was what we were doing. It was his understanding that typically applications for this sort of funding would tend to happen after the event.

Asked if there was EU money available and if the Government was on the case, the PMS replied that there was EU money available and the Government was on the case.

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» Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Floods

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