Government fails to provide cash to protect London

4.13.13pm GMT Tue 11th Nov 2003

A bill for £9m will have to be met by Londoners because the Government has failed to provide adequate funding to protect the capital in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Out of the £11m allocated from the 2003/4 GLA budget towards emergency equipment such as mass decontamination units, gas tight suits and other measures, only £2m will be funded by the government according to figures provided by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) (1).

At tomorrow's London Assembly plenary meeting (2), Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat member, will criticise the government's handling of the issue:

"More than two years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the government is still dragging its feet over providing funding to purchase specialised vehicles and equipments for use in the event of large-scale terrorist incidents.

"The cost of protecting the capital should be a national responsibility yet it is falling almost wholly on London council tax payers despite promises by the government to "fully fund" the necessary investment."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Factsheet provided by LFEPA to the London Assembly budget committee 6 November 2003

2. The Chair of LFEPA, Val Shawcross, will appear before the London Assembly at tomorrow's plenary, which begins at 10am at City Hall.