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| PM to see damage caused by floods | PM to see damage caused by floods |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown is visiting victims of the flooding that has devastated parts of the UK. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown is visiting victims of the flooding that has devastated parts of the UK. |
| Mr Brown, who began in Toll Bar near Doncaster, promised aid after floods hit more than 28,000 homes, mainly in the Midlands and northern England. | |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson - one of Hull's MPs - said he had been shocked by the scale of the problem, but denied the government had reacted too slowly. | Health Secretary Alan Johnson - one of Hull's MPs - said he had been shocked by the scale of the problem, but denied the government had reacted too slowly. |
| This was the "right week" to start the job of assessing the damage, he said. | This was the "right week" to start the job of assessing the damage, he said. |
| The insurance industry estimates that claims will total £1.5bn. | The insurance industry estimates that claims will total £1.5bn. |
| The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) calculates domestic claims will reach £825m, while those from businesses will add up to £680m. | The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) calculates domestic claims will reach £825m, while those from businesses will add up to £680m. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It's a tragic shame, but anybody who didn't have home insurance can't go moaning about that now! Chris Handley, Manchester Send us your comments | |
| It says there have been 27,500 domestic claims with an average value of £30,000, and 6,800 claims from businesses averaging £100,000. | It says there have been 27,500 domestic claims with an average value of £30,000, and 6,800 claims from businesses averaging £100,000. |
| The work to make many houses habitable again is expected to take months. | The work to make many houses habitable again is expected to take months. |
| Insurance warning | Insurance warning |
| Last week Hull City Council leader Carl Minns dubbed Hull the "forgotten city" of the flooding, and called for government help. | Last week Hull City Council leader Carl Minns dubbed Hull the "forgotten city" of the flooding, and called for government help. |
| HOMES FLOODED IN WORST-HIT AREAS Floods: Worst affected places | HOMES FLOODED IN WORST-HIT AREAS Floods: Worst affected places |
| Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "On 15 June you had those terrible floods and what people would say here is they didn't particularly want ministers coming down - they had to cope with an ongoing emergency situation. | Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "On 15 June you had those terrible floods and what people would say here is they didn't particularly want ministers coming down - they had to cope with an ongoing emergency situation. |
| "Then there was the expectation that last weekend - the first after the floods - that there was going to be another deluge and everyone was preparing for that. | "Then there was the expectation that last weekend - the first after the floods - that there was going to be another deluge and everyone was preparing for that. |
| "So I think this week is the right week for people to come and see actually what's happening and start the job of assessing what damage has been done." | "So I think this week is the right week for people to come and see actually what's happening and start the job of assessing what damage has been done." |
| He rejected suggestions that money had been diverted from flood defences, but said there were serious questions to be asked about drainage systems around Hull. | He rejected suggestions that money had been diverted from flood defences, but said there were serious questions to be asked about drainage systems around Hull. |
| And he said local people could be "absolutely assured that we are going to provide the assistance needed to recover from this dreadful blow". | And he said local people could be "absolutely assured that we are going to provide the assistance needed to recover from this dreadful blow". |
| Appeal funds | Appeal funds |
| The Financial Services Authority warned victims to be careful if approached by people offering insurance claim help. | The Financial Services Authority warned victims to be careful if approached by people offering insurance claim help. |
| The regulator said some claims handlers had been touting for business improperly, offering to negotiate with insurers. It said anyone charging for this service must be regulated by the FSA, like a loss assessor, or be a member of an "exempt profession". | The regulator said some claims handlers had been touting for business improperly, offering to negotiate with insurers. It said anyone charging for this service must be regulated by the FSA, like a loss assessor, or be a member of an "exempt profession". |
| Appeals have been set up in the north of England to help those hit by the floods. | Appeals have been set up in the north of England to help those hit by the floods. |
| The Federation of Small Businesses has set up a £500,000 fund to help firms affected by the floods in the north of England. | The Federation of Small Businesses has set up a £500,000 fund to help firms affected by the floods in the north of England. |
| Hundreds of people had to leave their homes in Toll Bar | Hundreds of people had to leave their homes in Toll Bar |
| It said it was offering short-term interest-free loans of up to £5,000 to any of its members suffering "severe trading hardship". | It said it was offering short-term interest-free loans of up to £5,000 to any of its members suffering "severe trading hardship". |
| The South Yorkshire Flood Disaster Relief Fund will raise money for those affected in Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield. | The South Yorkshire Flood Disaster Relief Fund will raise money for those affected in Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield. |
| The city council in Hull, where more than 16,000 homes have been affected, has launched the Hull Flood Fund. | The city council in Hull, where more than 16,000 homes have been affected, has launched the Hull Flood Fund. |
| Mr Minns said the flooding in the city had been a "massive humanitarian disaster". | Mr Minns said the flooding in the city had been a "massive humanitarian disaster". |
| Houses in the Catcliffe area of Sheffield were badly hit | Houses in the Catcliffe area of Sheffield were badly hit |
| He says it could cost more than £200m to repair the damage done to schools, public housing, doctors' surgeries, roads and leisure centres in the city. | He says it could cost more than £200m to repair the damage done to schools, public housing, doctors' surgeries, roads and leisure centres in the city. |
| In Doncaster, Mayor Martin Winter warned it could take between six and 18 months before some residents could return to their homes, "if at all". | In Doncaster, Mayor Martin Winter warned it could take between six and 18 months before some residents could return to their homes, "if at all". |
| As well as money, local residents are being asked to donate unwanted furniture to those affected. | As well as money, local residents are being asked to donate unwanted furniture to those affected. |