Wednesday 12 January 2011

Were the Met Office ‘gagged’? ask GWPF

Last week the Met Office sparked controversy by claiming their warnings to the Government of a cold winter were ignored. As a result, The Global Warming Policy Foundation has called on the House of Commons Transport Select Committee to set up a parliamentary enquiry as sceptics ask whether the weather service was silenced by Government ministers.

Dr Benny Peiser, Director of the Global Warming Policy Foundation said: "Not only is the lack of Government preparedness a cause for concern, but we wonder whether there may be another reason for keeping the cold warning under wraps, a motive that the Met Office and the Cabinet Office may have shared: Not to undermine the then forthcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun."

The BBC have issued the UK Government with a Freedom Of Information demand, in order to ascertain whether or not the Cabinet Office did in fact prevent the Met Office from issuing the correct warning.

Transport expert David Quarmby reported in October that the "Met Office gave 'early indications of the onset of a cold spell from late November.'" Dr Peiser said: "The Met Office are convinced by their modelling we'll have milder winters, they have an in-built 'warm-bias'. They'd be much better served and advised to have two or three different forecasters."

The GWPF also stressed the vast losses to the UK economy that came as a result of not being ready for the winter weather.

According to estimates the UK may have lost as much as £1bn a day during the cold snap. This could equate to as much as £15bn overall. Dr Peiser said: "Everyone involved is in a deep hole. They have to get their act together- they're losing trust and a huge amount of money."

The GWPF issued the letter to the Chair of the Transport Committee, Lousie Ellman MP, urging her to investigate the Government.