Buncefield Aftermath - who's in charge ?

Mike Penning calls for a clear explanation of which Government Secretary of State is responsible for the Buncefield aftermath.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, called on the Government to clarify which Secretary of State is now in charge of dealing with the aftermath of the Buncefield Oil Depot fire.

Six months have passed since the Buncefield fire, Mike Penning told the House of Commons:
“Since then, 4,000 jobs have been put at risk and our water table has been contaminated, but we have received no money from the Government. Can we have debate in which some Secretary of State makes it clear who is in charge, as the Deputy Prime Minister has been moved from his position?”

Later Mike Penning added:
“At the time the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, was quick to make a statement to the House of Commons and quick to visit the scene. He told us that he would be responsible for dealing with the aftermath – but now he has been moved from his position. Now another Government minister should come forward and take on the responsibility.”


Hansard extract:

Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): On 11 December, just before Christmas last year, the largest explosion that Europe has seen since the second world war took place in my constituency. I praised the Deputy Prime Minister the following day for making a statement before the House. Since then, 4,000 jobs have been put at risk and our water table has been contaminated, but we have received no money from the Government. Can we have debate in which some Secretary of State makes it clear who is in charge, as the Deputy Prime Minister has been moved from his position? I do not mean that in any detrimental way, but this is a very serious matter.
Mr. Straw: Of course I understand the profound seriousness of what happened and the importance of the long-term implications, which are too easily forgotten about once the problem is no longer in the headlines. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was personally concerned about the matter, and continues to be so. I shall certainly raise it with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for Trade and Industry and for Communities and Local Government. I will get the hon. Gentleman a response.