Emergency In The East Midlands (No.3)

EDM number 246 in 1990-91, proposed by Harry Barnes on 17/12/1990.

That this House is painfully aware of the widespread devastation that was caused in the East Midlands by recent severe weather conditions causing a long-term loss of crucial water and electricity supplies to factories, pits, hospitals, shops, nursing homes, hostels and to hundreds of thousands of people in their homes, including the aged, young children and others at risk; congratulates all those who worked so hard to re-establish supplies and those who brought water, food and heating to those in need, including local radio stations who helped to keep those with battery-operated radios supplied with vital information about these rescue operations; recognises that the devastation was at its very worst in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire; utterly condemns the Government for failing to handle the emergency including its refusal to announce that Bellwin and other monies will be provided for local authorities,voluntary organisations and individuals involved in rescue operations; further condemns the national media for failing to focus sufficient attention on this crisis; believes that Government and national media action was not forthcoming because of the emergency taking place outside Southern England and because it coincided with the flotation and initial marketing of East Midlands Electricity shares which would have been undersubscribed and have fallen sharply in value if the truth of the situation had been widely known; and expects the Government to act immediately to assist affected populations if severe weather conditions return.

This motion has been signed by a total of 19 MPs.