§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the warnings given to the public prior to the storms and floods on 11th January were adequate.
§ Mr. Strang,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 344], gave the following information:
I can now say that I am satisfied that the public warning system operated satisfactorily in general. I regret, however, that due partly to the unexpected behaviour of the tidal surge in the Wash and partly to the failure of telephone communications adequate warning was not given in Wisbech and parts of King's Lynn. I have written the hon. Member explaining the steps that have been taken by my Department and the Anglian Water Authority to overcome these difficulties for the future.