Meanwhile, troops have been deployed to rescue thousands stranded by severe flooding across northern England and Scotland and emergency services continue to battle against the effects of storm Desmond, which left thousands of homes without power in Cumbria and Lancashire and forced schools and hospitals to close.
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In Cumbria, an estimated 1,450 properties remain without power, as engineers wait for floodwaters to recede so they can assess the damage and make essential repairs.
Some in the northwest criticised flood defences, but Environment Agency chief executive James Bevan described the rainfall as an “unprecedented event”.
More than 40 severe flood warnings – signalling a danger to life – remain in place across the North West and yellow rain warnings have been issued for later in the week.
She told BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “Is it to do with climate change?”
The Prime Minister admitted on Monday that multimillion-pound defences – which were upgraded in 2010 to withstand a “once in 100 years” flood – “weren’t enough on this occasion”.
Police said yesterday that a body was found near the northern town of Kendal after police were called on Sunday to reports that an elderly man had fallen in the water, the second person confirmed dead since the floods began.
Ms Truss said the Bellwin scheme allowing councils to recover the costs of tackling floods from Whitehall will be put into operation and further support schemes are to be announced over coming days.
Speaking from the Trade Unions for Energy Democracy meeting in Paris, he said: “Last year, the Prime Minister of Britain promised that “money is no object” in dealing with flooding, itself a outcome of the destruction of our environment”. But this has proved to be yet another false promise.
Some were taken to safety in boats after roads were submerged, and officials expressed concern that heavy rains were becoming more frequent in some parts of the country after floods hit the region in 2009 and 2005. “In the last parliament, the government slashed spending on flood defences before the 2014 winter floods”, said Corbyn.
“My friend phoned me to say she was flooded and fire engines were right along the street because it was going into people’s houses”.
The PM was shown inside the home of mother-of-three Lesa Boyko, whose home in Carlisle was hit by two feet of flood water after the River Eden broke through flood defences. “Looking at late evening before we can restore the remainder but we are working hard to get you on”.
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The west and south-west were worst hit by the floods, with extensive damage to many homes and businesses.
