The European Parliament on Tuesday voted to allocate at least £123million from the EU Flood Relief Fund to the UK to alleviate the hardship suffered during last summer's floods.

The money is intended to help pay for the reconstruction of key infrastructure destroyed in the floods last June and July, estimated to have caused around £3.48billion worth of damage.

Mr Kirkhope, who represents Yorkshire and the Humber, was instrumental in pushing the Government to apply for the funding.

The bid from the UK Government came only after weeks of pressure from the Conservatives and Mr Kirkhope in particular. This is the first time the UK has applied to the fund and the money will go towards reimbursing local authorities for the costs of emergency services, the flood clean-up and to offset the expense of restoring infrastructure such as roads and power lines.

Now that the money has been approved, Mr Kirkhope believes that it is imperative that Yorkshire and the Humber does not lose out and that the funds are distributed objectively and fairly right across the region.

He said: "I am delighted that this money will finally be received to help deal with some of the distress my constituents have suffered. My first priority is to make sure that we receive our full quota of financial assistance. It is important that we ensure the aid is delivered as quickly as possible, and it also goes to the right people.

"My second priority is to make certain that the decisions regarding the allocation of the funds in this region are not politically linked or dependent, but based solely on need.

"It is important that the rural areas are not missed out just because the population is less in numbers. I am not convinced that on this occasion a Government department is best suited to make these decisions. A totally independent judgement is needed to guarantee fairness and speed."

His views have been echoed by Liberal democrat MEP Diana Wallis.
Speaking after the vote to approve the release of money from the EU's Solidarity Fund, Ms. Wallis, a European Parliament vice-president, said: "I am delighted that this has been approved so overwhelmingly. I first approached Gordon Brown personally last summer pressing him to get an application for funding submitted so I am pleased that it has passed this final hurdle."

Speaking in the debate that preceded the vote, Ms. Wallis had said: "For me, representing Yorkshire and the Humber, an area directly hit by the abnormal floods last summer, I am only too aware of the impact the floods had on the cities and villages across my region.

There are still very many individuals out of their homes and whilst this money will not go to them directly, it will nevertheless support the communities in which they live.
"It will also mean tha my constituents will now understand that European solidarity has a tangible practical meaning."