Local link to ash plan

AN Oldham election candidate helped push through legislation which is now being used to bring home thousands of passengers stranded across the world after volcanic ash grounded planes.

Phil Woolas was a Government whip in 2003 and it was his job to ensure The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 got through Parliament. It provides a framework for emergency planning and response ranging in any national or local emergency.

He later became Civil Contingencies Minister and worked on the 7/7 attacks and the floods.

He said: “It is one of the best pieces of legislation in decades, while we did not have a plan for volcanic ash, we have a plan for aircrafts being grounded by terrorism, a fuel crisis or even war.

“Being contingency minister was a very exciting challenging job and very demanding.

“The media are your friends but also your problem.

“You have to get the message out through them for the public but you do not want to cause alarm.

Transport Minister Andrew Adonis is now taking charge of the situation.

The UK’s emergency committee Cobra is in the process of discussing options to address the travel chaos caused by the volcanic ash cloud.