§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the recent public statements of the President of the European Commission that, pending establishment of a new fund within the European Community relating to disaster relief and rehabilitation, flood grants can be made available from its regional funds, what Community instruments or procedures are available for applications from, and payments to, national, as distinct from regional, bodies. [HL5784]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)Any application from a national body for structural fund support would normally need to be submitted at a regional level using the existing procedures. In the event of all or most regions in a member state being affected, the government of the member state concerned could make a consolidated application. This would be presented to the Commission via the member state's Permanent Representative to the European Union.
The use of European regional funding is a temporary measure while the modalities of the new fund are being discussed.