Gerald secures promise for flooding support funding from Prime Minister

Gerald calls on the Prime Minister to commit to providing flood relief funding for Welsh communities during Prime Minister's Questions, 26 February

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MP Gerald Jones has secured an assurance from the Prime Minister that Wales will receive funding to help recover from the recent floods.

During the exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 26th February, Gerald Jones MP asked the Prime Minister for a ‘cast-iron guarantee’ for the ‘major new funding’ that Wales needs for flood damage:

“The Prime Minister talks the talk on the Union but will he today make a cast iron guarantee to provide new funding for Welsh communities to recover from the floods?”, said Mr Jones.

In his response, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said that while flooding in Wales was a devolved matter, the UK Government would commit to working with the Welsh Government and providing the funding for flood relief:

“Of course it is a devolved matter, but nonetheless the Government are committed to working flat out with the Welsh Administration to ensure that everybody gets the flood relief that they need. Yes, of course, that cash certainly will be passported through”, said the Prime Minister.

Following the exchange, Gerald Jones MP commented:

“People in my constituency have been devastated by flooding. In these difficult days, we have seen the best of humanity with people helping each other.

“Despite years of austerity, our local authorities have been at the forefront of delivering support and the Welsh Government have announced a £10million emergency response fund. However, the UK Government must step up and deliver much needed additional funding to support Welsh communities.”

“The strength of our union is based on sharing resources in people’s time of need but so far not a penny of the money announced by the UK government will benefit Wales where the cost of repair will run to hundreds of millions.

“I am pleased that the Prime Minister has signalled that funding would be passported through to Wales. I have liaised with both Merthyr Tydfil CBC and Caerphilly CBC and I know that both authorities are working hard to assess the damage and the cost of repair.

“I will continue to work closely with our local authorities & my colleague Dawn Bowden AM to make the case for the funding they need to recover.”