Politicians call for action after floods cause havoc in the UK
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Politicians in the United Kingdom have started calling for action after months of heavy rainfall have left parts of Britain in crisis from flooding and electricity and water shortages. Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young has called for an increased budget of around £1 billion a year to pay for flood defenses. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has suggested that the conditions were 'unprecedented', and would overwhelm even the best flood defenses, but said that the Environment Agency's capital expenditure would be increased from £600m to £800m by 2010/11.
Opposition leaders have similarly called for more money to be spent on flood defenses. Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell suggested that the flood risk was known about before it happened, and questioned the degree of preparedness in place.
Conservative leader David Cameron has called for a public inquiry into the crisis. The Conservative shadow Environment Secretary criticised a 'lack of clarity' in the command of clean up operations, and MP John Redwood has asked why the army was not mobilised in support.
The Government has ordered a Cabinet Office review of the flooding events.
Related news
edit- "Heavy rain causes flooding across the UK" — Wikinews, July 20, 2007
- "Heavy rain causes severe flooding in UK" — Wikinews, June 25, 2007
Sources
edit- "'£1bn needed' to prevent flooding" — BBC News Online, July 22, 2007
- Jo Revill and Juliette Jowit. "Met Office warned ministers months ago about flooding" — Guardian Unlimited, July 22, 2007