Brown scrambles ministers for volcanic ash meeting
By Ian Dunt
Gordon Brown is to chair an urgent ministerial meeting this afternoon over the volcanic ash which has grounded all flights to and from the UK.
The meeting looked into problems resulting from volcanic ash in the atmosphere and how government might be able to mitigate its effects.
Concern is starting to centre on how to help Britons stranded abroad, as well as the economic and industrial ramifications of the chaos.
One of the ideas being suggested would see the use of Spain as a hub for transferal to other means of tranport.
The Tories announced their own eight-point plan today, with demands the Royal Navy be scrambled to bring Brits home, as well as the use of chartered ships and piston engine planes.
“With thousands of Britons stuck in airports overseas, it is hugely worrying that there is no end in sight for the flight ban,” said shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers.
“This crisis is costing the economy millions of pounds every day and causing huge amounts of travel misery. Those who are stranded abroad need reassurance from the government that they are doing all they can to help get people home and address the crisis.”
Today is the fourth day the UK has been, to all intents and purposes, a no-fly zone. The grounding will not be lifted until 19:00 BST tomorrow at the earliest, although experts are warning the situation could continue for several more days.
Transport secretary Lord Adonis said the signs for Monday were “not encouraging”.
He added: “I wish to establish, as a matter of urgency, whether some safe flight paths can be identified and opened up to flights within the area affected by ash.”
Urgent talks are going on at a European and international level to try to counter the chaos that engulfed European airports as the entire aviation network ground to a halt.
