Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): On 11 December last year, the largest explosion and fire that Europe has seen since the second world war erupted at the Buncefield oil depot in my constituency. The firemen did a fantastic job, and the Deputy Prime Minister did a fantastic job in co-ordinating measures while the fire was burning. Once it had gone out, however, a plethora of Departments were put in charge of different aspects of the disaster. May we have a debate on how national disasters are dealt with—whether they are natural disasters or industrial disasters like the one at Buncefield—so that we can establish exactly who should be in charge? Mr. Hoon: The hon. Gentleman has adopted a sensible, careful and practical approach to that terrible tragedy, and I admire the way in which he has represented the interests of his constituents. Each such terrible incident generally turns on the particular facts of the case, and no two national disasters necessarily involve the same issues; but I will consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion carefully. |
