During Works and Pensions Questions in the House of Commons, Mike Penning called on Government Ministers to do more to attract jobs to Hemel Hempstead following the Buncefield explosion.

Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, called for more Government assistance to restore business confidence in Hemel Hempstead which has been lost as a result of the Buncefield explosion and compounded by an inquiry which is being held in secret.

“One area of the country in which unemployment is rising is Hemel Hempstead. It is no fault of the businesses or people seeking work in the area, but is the result of the Buncefield explosion” he said.

He went on to add:
“An inquiry is taking place behind closed doors, which does not aid the local community’s confidence at this time.”

Afterwards, Mike said:
“It is time the Government recognised the lasting effect this disaster has had on the businesses and people of Hemel Hempstead. This time last year that area of the Maylands industrial estate was thriving with hi-tech IT businesses, now the area around the oil depot is a wasteland. Ministers must understand that Government has an important role to play in what was a full-scale national disaster.”