London begins to add up cost of the bombings

28 Jul 05
The costs to the emergency services of the terrorist attacks that hit London on July 7 and again on July 21 have yet to emerge, at least publicly.

29 July 2005

The costs to the emergency services of the terrorist attacks that hit London on July 7 and again on July 21 have yet to emerge, at least publicly.

Giving evidence to the London Assembly's budget committee on July 27, Ken Hunt, treasurer of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said: 'All Londoners realise the significance of the extra policing effort. That does not come without additional costs.'

Although he would not give the committee any figures, Assembly members have benefited from a private briefing on some of the details involved. He did say a substantial bill would have to be paid to neighbouring forces for the help they gave to the capital.

Hunt added that he had yet to see any detailed information on how extra funding, announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown on July 19, was to be used. The £20m package is to be split between the statutory criminal injuries compensation scheme and the Met's counter-terrorist operations.

The committee also heard from the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. London Fire Brigade deputy commissioner Roy Bishop said: 'We are working through the debrief for the organisation and if there are any budgeting pressures they will emerge in time for the budget-setting process in the autumn.'

Bishop added that, given the nature of the attacks, most of the costs of July 7 had fallen on the funding provided to the brigade by the Greater London Authority.

A second funding stream supplied by central government is intended to help the brigade respond to a biological or chemical attack.

A London Assembly spokesman said the body intended to review the emergency services' response to the attacks.

PFjul2005

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