The claim

“The list of problems that the Hon. Lady read out are overwhelmingly related to the difficulties in the transport system.”
Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, House of Commons, 2 December 2010

Cathy Newman checks it out

Labour dragged Philip Hammond to the Commons today to explain why much of the eastern part of Britain appears to be grinding to a standstill. The MP who tabled the question, Labour’s Roberta Blackman Woods, read out a litany of woes facing the country after the biggest snowfall since 1965.

In response, Mr Hammond admitted that there was disruption, but insisted there was no emergency, and that the problems were largely transport-related. Downing Street isn’t even convening the emergency committee Cobra – pressed into action with almost monotonous regularity during the previous government. But are ministers under-estimating the scale of the problem?

The analysis

There’s no doubt that the snow has wreaked havoc on Britain’s transport network. Roads are jammed, rail services cancelled and airports closed. The AA said it had attended 10,500 breakdowns, with calls coming in at 1,150 every hour. 300 passengers found themselves stranded overnight on a Southern train in West Sussex. And four major airports shut down. There are also reports of “critical” petrol shortages because tankers are getting stuck in the snow.

But the big freeze has extended its grip far beyond the transport network.
Around 7,000 schools shut their doors. And there were reports of panic-buying at supermarkets as people rushed to stock up on essentials.

But what’s perhaps most worrying is the impact the snow is having on the health service. Ambulances are struggling to get through, and patients with less serious conditions are being given advice over the phone.

And FactCheck has learnt that the bad weather is causing a crisis in blood supplies. People donating blood can’t get out of their homes, and staff collecting it from village halls, businesses and clinics are being slowed down by the snow. So whereas normally in the South East of England alone, 1100 blood units would be collected per day, this week that’s dropped to 120 units.

Unison’s head of health Karen Jennings told us the country only has “a couple of days’ stock”, and is urging people to “go the extra mile” to donate blood.

Cathy Newman’s verdict

It’s true that transport has been worst hit by the Arctic freeze. But the risk for the government is that what started as a freak weather event could turn into a national emergency.

The NHS is particularly vulnerable. So it’s no surprise to learn tonight that while there are – at this stage – no plans to summon Cobra, ministers from across government are being ordered to a meeting tomorrow.

I understand transport, education, health and local government departments will be represented. This is no longer just a problem for Philip Hammond, and Downing Street clearly recognises that a more co-ordinated response is needed.