HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 c758W
Mr. Wiggin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set up an inquiry into the response of the electricity industry to the situation in Herefordshire caused by the storms of 26 and 27 October. [79980]

Mr. Wilson

I have already launched a study into the performance of companies in their handling of the storms.

It will look at:

  • the robustness of the networks
  • the preparations for the storms—acting on weather warnings
  • the comparisons of performance with previous storms and events
  • the telephone system and provision of information to customers
  • the automated information systems
  • the availability of management and deployment of staff and resources
  • the availability of materials and the companies' perception of lessons learned.

The findings will be mapped across to those of a study carried out earlier into the resilience and robustness of our electricity infrastructure.