Scottish ministers should make an emergency parliamentary statement on how they plan to spend funding to help flood hit areas in Ayrshire, according to local Scottish Conservative candidate Jamie Greene.
The UK Government announced on 29 December that they were spending £50m to support flood affected communities - with all devolved nations receiving their share. However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament last week that Scottish ministers had yet to decide on how to spend the funds.
The Scottish Conservatives are also calling for clarity on whether Scottish ministers intend to set up a Farming Recovery Fund, as set up in England, to help with short term damage to soil, tracks and flood channels.
Jamie told the press, "The floods are having a devastating effect on families, individuals and businesses across Scotland and this constituency. It's been a really miserable time for those who have been affected. People are asking me what funds will be made available to help those affected, when the money will be received and if local councils will receive any additional funding to help with flood prevention. I call on Richard Lochhead, Rural Affairs Minister, to make a formal statement on the crisis."
Jamie added "Every time a big storm hits us, we see localised flooding across the region, from Fairlie to Irvine. Councils are struggling with a lack of funding for future flood defences and farmers are still waiting for support cash months after the SNP promised it. This is why I am calling for a full ministerial statement to the Scottish parliament to ensure our flood hit communities and rural residents are getting the same fair deal in Scotland as those being affected South of the border. We need to be pro-active not re-active when it comes to this."