Christopher Chope
Main Page: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)EU Solidarity Fund: Flooding
Christopher Chope Excerpts(8 years, 8 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
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James Wharton
The hon. Gentleman is right—speed is of the essence, which is why the Government have made more than £200 million available to areas affected and made it available as quickly as possible—immediately —for the communities that needed support, so that support is there. This fund will take time to pay out. That is the way the process works. It will take months from the date of application to come to conclusion. We have decided to apply because we have assessed it to be of net benefit to the UK to do so, but the funding that communities needed was provided by this Government straight away.
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)
My hon. Friend says that this is an important application, but will he put it in context? Every day British taxpayers pay £50 million to the European Union. How much does he think we are going to get back: three or four days’ worth of contributions?
James Wharton
My hon. Friend makes his point better than I would endeavour to do from the Dispatch Box today.