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Shadow Environment Secretary Kerry McCarthy says the government must commit to "do all they can" to tackle flooding. She says in the House of Commons: "It is not enough for the Prime Minister and the Environment Secretary to pledge to deal with the devastation and damage caused. We do need a commitment from them also to do all they can to prevent this happening again."

Ms McCarthy suggests cuts to flood spending under the previous government has left the UK unprepared for extreme weather events and called for year-on-year investments in flood defences.

She says Labour would like to see a "cross-party approach" to ensure those affected by floods in Cumbria and Lancashire were able to return home where possible before Christmas.

Ms McCarthy criticises the government's response to previous major floods in winter 2013/14, saying the Prime Minister had promised money would be no object, but "it was months before residents, business owners and farmers received support from the government and much longer before they could return home".

Ms McCarthy also criticises former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, saying he was "not someone who was prepared to acknowledge the risks posed by climate change" and urged the government to adapt policy to tackle extreme weather events.

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Environment Secretary Liz Truss confirmed in a statement to the Commons this afternoon that the government will open the Bellwin scheme in response to the flooding crisis in the North West of England. (This is a scheme which provides money to local authorities to safeguard life and property following a disaster or emergency).

Ms Truss told the House "100% of eligible costs will be met by the government," and that "more support schemes will be announced over the coming days".

The Secretary of State also confirmed "a number of weather-related fatalities" and added lessons would be learned from this extreme weather event.

She added the government is investing £2.3bn in 1,500 schemes over the course of the parliament that will protect 300,000 homes from flooding.

Ms Truss said she would travel to Cumbria and Lancashire immediately after making her statement.

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The Labour Party's London mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan MP, says the government's delay in reaching a decision on whether to build a third runway at Heathrow, "may be good news for politics inside the Conservative Party but it's bad for London, the South East and our country".

He says "Heathrow is no longer viable," and that that option was a "non-runner", citing concerns over air quality.

He adds "there is an alternative in the form of a new runway at Gatwick Airport".

He went on to say the government's "dithering and delaying is really bad news for London" and called for a quick decision to get jobs and growth into the capital and the wider region, saying "we need a decision".

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Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

The President of the European Council says there are “substantial political differences” when it comes to David Cameron’s plan to reform benefits for migrant workers.

Writing to the leaders of all member states, Donald Tusk says this is the most “delicate” area of proposed reform and will require “substantive political debate” when European leaders meet in Brussels next week.

Several European leaders have expressed doubts about the legality of the UK’s plan to ban migrant workers from claiming in-work benefits for four years on the basis it may discriminate between EU citizens.

David Cameron has made this a central plank of his proposed reforms in order to reduce the “pull factors” for migrants in an attempt to reduce immigration figures.

Mr Tusk says there’s currently no consensus, but talks had made “good progress” and he hoped to have a concrete proposal in place ready for the meeting of European leaders in February.

Downing St has already conceded that a deal wouldn't be struck before Christmas.

On the other proposed reforms Mr Tusk suggests agreement can be reached although makes clear there won’t be a right for member states to veto decisions taken by Eurozone countries.

Mr Tusk says all member states must take responsibility and readiness to compromise in order for the negotiation to succeed.

He says uncertainty about the UK’s future in the EU is a “destabilising factor” and it was important to answer the British concerns "as soon as possible".

Jeremy Corbyn says he will "explain" his position on Syria to his hosts during his visit to France. Last week the Commons voted for air strikes to go ahead in the country, which Mr Corbyn was against. 

He is attending a meeting with the Socialist Party leader Jean-Christophe Cambadelis in Paris.

He says he is sure there will be an "interesting discussion" but stressed the importance of the political process.

Jeremy Corbyn says he will "attend all the things on my diary" in response to a question about whether he will be at the Stop the War fundraiser on Friday.  

He was speaking at the Socialist HQ in Paris before a meeting with Jean-Christophe Cambadelis.

On Sunday Former Labour shadow minister, Tristram Hunt, called the group "disreputable" and said Mr Corbyn should "step back" from them.

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BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth says Donald Tusk met the leaders of the 27 other EU counties to try and assess their reaction to the proposals put forward by the UK.

In three of the areas David Cameron is hoping to reform - on protection for non-eurozone member states, more sovereignty, and competiveness - it looks like a deal can be done, she says.

But the real "sticking point" is the issue of welfare, with David Cameron wanting to curb in-work benefits for migrants for four years. The letter makes it plain that this will not be an easy one for Mr Cameron to achieve, Alex Forsyth adds.

European Council President Donald Tusk went on to say a "concrete deal" on Britain's EU reform aims should be agreed at a summit of European leaders in February.

Mr Tusk, who has a key role in trying to broker a deal between the UK and the rest of the EU ahead of the planned referendum, said "good progres" had been made. But, he added, in a letter to all EU leaders: