WIRRAL West MP Esther McVey has been given special responsibility for flood recovery for the North West region.

The role will include talking to businesses and communities to understand how local flood response and recovery processes have been carried out.

She is also tasked with exploring practical steps proposed to reduce the risk of damaging floods next winter and assessing the effectiveness of multi-agency working at local level.

Exploring where this winter’s severe weather has exposed new or existing weaknesses in local flood defences and resilience, and how these weaknesses might be remedied in the future.

Ms McVey said: “Following the tidal surge in Wirral in early December, I have already met with the council’s chief executive and his health safety and resilience team.

“I will continue to work with them, and now other North West local authorities and agencies to try to bring together a joined up approach to tackling the flooding issues.”

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has asked Ms McVey to keep him appraised of progress prior to presenting her views to the Flooding Cabinet Committee later in the spring.