HC Deb 05 March 1991 vol 187 cc137-9W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums were received from the EC. for the victims of the storms of 5 and 6 January in respect

of emergency aid; what sums were received in each of the previous three years for such a purpose; and how the sums for each year were expended and in what areas.

Dr. Mawhinney

[holding answer 26 February 1991]: A total of 500,000 ECUs (£340,000 sterling equivalent) has been provided by the European Commission to assist victims in the United Kingdom of the recent storms (December 1990 and January 1991) and arrangements are now being made by the British Red Cross Society for distribution.

Under existing EC priorities, aid is given to relatives of those who have been killed, to those injured and, where appropriate, to those who have suffered material loss.

Following the storms of late 1989 to early 1990, Northern Ireland received and distributed £14,100 in respect of two persons who died and three who were seriously injured as a result of those storms.