Mike Penning has welcomed Total UK’s guilty plea in Buncefield case and calls for quick settlement of outstanding compensation claims.

Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, has welcomed news that Total UK has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey today. Total UK faced two charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive under the Health and Safety at Work Act and one charge brought by the Environment Agency of water pollution under the Water Resources Act.

Mike Penning said:
“This is fantastic news. I am delighted that common sense has finally prevailed. I very much hope that we will start to see compensation payouts to my constituents – many of whom have suffered so much as a result of the Buncefield explosion.”

“We await the Court’s ruling on the other cases.”

Four other companies, Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd, British Pipeline Agency Ltd, TAV Engineering Ltd and Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd, pleaded not guilty.