DAN Rogerson, the under secretary of state for water, forestry, rural affairs and resource management visited Somerset last Thursday.

The Minister met with residents who had been affected by flooding to discuss ongoing insurance issues.

He was accompanied by senior representatives from the Insurance industry.

The meeting was held after discussions between Liz Truss MP, the Secretary of State for the Environment, and Cllr Ric Pallister, leader of South Somerset District Council who chairs the Somerset wide Health and Housing Flood Recovery Group.

The Minister was able to hear concerns and worries first hand from residents who were present at the meeting and residents asked questions.

During the meeting, the Minister made a promise that he would speak to the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) about those cases where people have not been able to get insurance at all.

Cllr Ric Pallister said: “I was extremely pleased that we were able to arrange the meeting and that the Minister was able to spend more than an hour and a half listening and talking to residents.

“He was clearly anxious to ensure that the Government was doing all it could in working with the insurance industry to ensure that everyone has insurance cover for the next year and that it is effective and affordable.

“We must praise some insurance companies such as Aviva and NFU Mutual who have gone above and beyond and set the standard where others have failed. Clearly there are areas where additional action is required”.