I don't mind paying for insurance, it seems the sensible thing to do, cf. Snoopy's claim.
I did hear that there is a possibiliy that some people who weren't insured and affected by the recent floods will get payments from the Social Fund, e.g. me. Another case of the government rewarding stupid behaviour.
Come on Mort, where's your sense of charity.
These people without insurance prolly had more urgent things to spend their money on - fags, stella, nokia n95, nintendo wii etc etc etc.
According to the BBC interview with a Government Minister (I forget which one 'cos they're all new) this morning those entitled to benefits can apply for emergency assistance in the form of emergency grants and/or emergency loans. Those in employment and not in receipt of means tested benefits will be able to apply for an emergency loan. The maximum anyone will be able to apply for is apparently ?5k, each application, supported by evidence of the loss incurred and the lack of insurance cover, will have to meet predetermined criteria and will, in most cases be repayable by means of deductions from pay or benefits.
One category mentioned was those who do not have insurance cover where insurers have refused to provide it because of previous or known flooding risks. You cannot blame someone who has been housed in property built by a local authority on a known flood plain.
Large areas of Rhyl and Prestatyn, as an example, are currently listed on the Dept of Environment web site as a known flood risk. The "flood risk" is based on the unproven theory that "Global Warming" will cause sea levels to rise and much of the area mentioned is at or below sea level. Insurers are refusing cover and people are finding that Building Societies are now refusing mortgages for these properties.
Not everyone is scrounging ~ some are just plain unlucky.
The stupid behaviour involved here has been shown by successive Governments who have encouraged building in such areas and are still doing so. Just look at their plans for the lower reaches of the River Thames area and remember that the Olympic village which is to revitalise the East End of London is being built on a known swamp.
