Wera Hobhouse MP Questions Government on Lack of Flood Recovery Support for City of Bath

On the 25th of January, Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, questioned the government over the eligibility criteria for the Flood Recovery Framework.

The Bath MP grilled the Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, over the confusion surrounding eligibility criteria for the flood recovery support announced on the 6th of January. Despite many Bath residents suffering damage to their properties, Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council are not eligible for the funding available through the Flood Recovery Framework, leaving damage victims without support as they navigate clean-up costs. 

Wera Hobhouse pointed out the absurdity of Bath having been issued Flood Warnings prior to the floods, and yet receiving no financial support in its aftermath. She praised her local council for superb management of the flood to limit the damage caused. The Bath MP then went on to criticise the government’s assessment that B&NES was not eligible for financial support because too few properties were damaged internally. 

Mrs Hobhouse asked for a ministerial statement to explain why certain council areas had been excluded from funding through the Flood Recovery Framework and what the government were doing to help councils that had been substantially damaged by flooding. 

In her response, the Leader of the House praised emergency services and other authorities that had been working hard to protect communities from snow, floods and high winds in recent weeks. She assured Mrs Hobhouse that she would raise the uncertainty surrounding eligibility for flood recovery funding with the relevant Secretary of State. 

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, commented: 

“It's absurd that Bath is not eligible for flood recovery support despite many residents suffering material damage to their homes and businesses. 
“The government is offering no comfort to flood victims who must now undertake a huge clean-up operation to repair significant external damage. It is simply not good enough.”

The full exchange between Wera Hobhouse and Penny Mordaunt can be found here.