Flood recovery entering ‘critical period’

By James Wilson, North of England Correspondent

Published: September 4 2007 04:00 | Last updated: September 4 2007 04:00

Businesses affected by the extensive summer floods were moving into a “critical period” as they tried to recover and re-equip, John Hutton, the secretary of state for business and enterprise, acknowledged on Monday as he met affected companies in Yorkshire.

Mr Hutton assured affected businesses that the government was “in it for the long haul” and would examine other ways to help business, such as working with insurers to make insurance cover available in high-risk areas. Attending a “flood summit” in Doncaster, one of the towns worst affected by floods, Mr Hutton did not announce any new aid but said financial support for non-insured losses offered by the region’s development agency was helping businesses.

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