On Monday in Parliament Gerald Jones, the MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, called on the UK Government to provide support to local communities affected by flooding in the wake of Storm Dennis, during an Urgent Question on the Government’s response to flooding nationwide.

Storm Dennis caused huge damage to people and communities across Merthyr Tydfil and the Upper Rhymney Valley in February, and although the local authorities, Caerphilly County Borough Council and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, as well as the Welsh Government provided funding, the UK Government has yet to provide any support or funding to communities affected across Wales, due to flooding and environmental issues typically falling under devolved administration responsibility.

However, Gerald and other Welsh MPs have called on the UK Government to step up and work with the Welsh Government to provide further funding to support affected areas, arguing that the model for allocating devolution funding is not based on community need, and local communities in South Wales are missing out after being disproportionately affected and some people’s homes devastated by the floods.

Gerald has also joined Welsh MPs to write to the Prime Minister, urging him to reconsider the devolution funding model and ensure Welsh communities do not miss out during this time of crisis.

Speaking in Parliament, Gerald said:

“Storm Dennis caused huge damage across Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Our communities and local people showed amazing resilience, and our local authorities, despite years of Tory austerity, were at the forefront of delivering support.

 

“The Welsh Government have offered a fund, yet despite the unprecedented nature of these floods, the United Kingdom Government have offered no additional financial support to Welsh communities. Why not?”