BROWN'S SUPPORT PACKAGE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH - HUHNE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 7th Jul 2007

Responding to Gordon Brown's announcement of a £14 million support package for areas affected by recent flooding, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"Gordon Brown's commitment of financial help for these distressed areas is a welcome, if belated, recognition of the sheer scale of the problem.

"But judging by my visit to Hull on Tuesday, the Prime Minister's measures may not be enough.

"We need a specific commitment from the Government to support capital spending when complete reconstruction is more cost-effective than patching and mending.

"Households on benefits need particular and rapid help to replace furnishings contaminated by sewage in the flood water."