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| Storm Desmond: £50m flood fund pledged for victims | Storm Desmond: £50m flood fund pledged for victims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| George Osborne has announced a £50m fund for families and businesses hit by floods in Cumbria and Lancashire. | George Osborne has announced a £50m fund for families and businesses hit by floods in Cumbria and Lancashire. |
| Each family would be able to claim up to £5,000 to protect their homes from future damage, the chancellor told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions. | Each family would be able to claim up to £5,000 to protect their homes from future damage, the chancellor told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions. |
| Funding would be administered by local authorities to avoid delays, he added. | Funding would be administered by local authorities to avoid delays, he added. |
| Mr Osborne was responding to shadow first secretary of state Angela Eagle's request for a guarantee that those affected would receive help quickly. | Mr Osborne was responding to shadow first secretary of state Angela Eagle's request for a guarantee that those affected would receive help quickly. |
| She said only 15% of those affected by last winter's floods had received promised financial assistance. | She said only 15% of those affected by last winter's floods had received promised financial assistance. |
| As part of the announcement, the Scottish government will be given almost £4m to help communities affected by flooding caused by Storm Desmond. | As part of the announcement, the Scottish government will be given almost £4m to help communities affected by flooding caused by Storm Desmond. |
| It comes after it was announced that about 5,000 homes and businesses hit by floods in Cumbria and Lancashire would be given temporary relief from their council tax and business rates. | It comes after it was announced that about 5,000 homes and businesses hit by floods in Cumbria and Lancashire would be given temporary relief from their council tax and business rates. |
| A severe flood warning, indicating danger to life, is still in place for the village of St Michael's, near the River Wyre in Lancashire, with heavy rain expected later. | A severe flood warning, indicating danger to life, is still in place for the village of St Michael's, near the River Wyre in Lancashire, with heavy rain expected later. |
| The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for north-west England and Scotland, with up to 80mm of rain predicted in parts and winds of up to 70mph. | The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for north-west England and Scotland, with up to 80mm of rain predicted in parts and winds of up to 70mph. |
| The deluge brought by Storm Desmond began on 4 December, flooding thousands of homes in Cumbria and Lancashire and causing widespread damage and power cuts. | The deluge brought by Storm Desmond began on 4 December, flooding thousands of homes in Cumbria and Lancashire and causing widespread damage and power cuts. |
| In an update on the situation, Mr Osborne said power had been restored to 168,000 homes after record rainfall and the West Coast mainline was running again. | In an update on the situation, Mr Osborne said power had been restored to 168,000 homes after record rainfall and the West Coast mainline was running again. |
| He said the level of damage to the infrastructure, roads and existing flood defences in parts of Cumbria and Lancashire was currently being assessed, and funds would be made available. | He said the level of damage to the infrastructure, roads and existing flood defences in parts of Cumbria and Lancashire was currently being assessed, and funds would be made available. |
| The Treasury said £500 would be offered to homeowners in need of temporary accommodation and a grant of up to £5,000 would be available to pay for barriers, waterproof doors and higher electrical sockets to protect their home in the future. | The Treasury said £500 would be offered to homeowners in need of temporary accommodation and a grant of up to £5,000 would be available to pay for barriers, waterproof doors and higher electrical sockets to protect their home in the future. |
| Businesses would be offered up to £2,500 to help them to resume trading. | Businesses would be offered up to £2,500 to help them to resume trading. |
| The Environment Agency will be given £10m to repair flood defences damaged by the rain. | The Environment Agency will be given £10m to repair flood defences damaged by the rain. |
| In a further announcement at PMQs, Mr Osborne, who was standing in for David Cameron, said the government would match up to £1m collected by the Cumbria Community Foundation to help recovery from the floods. | In a further announcement at PMQs, Mr Osborne, who was standing in for David Cameron, said the government would match up to £1m collected by the Cumbria Community Foundation to help recovery from the floods. |
| So far more than £600,000 has been raised. | So far more than £600,000 has been raised. |
| Conservative Carlisle MP John Stevenson said the charity would help people "right across the county". | Conservative Carlisle MP John Stevenson said the charity would help people "right across the county". |
| Clean-ups have begun in Carlisle, Keswick and Cockermouth but the Environment Agency said flood warnings may be reissued for those areas, as well as Appleby and Kendal. | Clean-ups have begun in Carlisle, Keswick and Cockermouth but the Environment Agency said flood warnings may be reissued for those areas, as well as Appleby and Kendal. |
| Cumbria Constabulary has issued a leaflet advising people recovering from the floods, including a warning about being aware of "bogus or suspicious" tradesmen. | |
| Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency | Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency |
| Have you been affected by Storm Desmond? You can share your comments and experience by emailings. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |
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