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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP 

28 June 2007

Last week provided yet another demonstration of how we remain at the mercy of natural forces beyond our control. Across the district from Hawkinge to New Romney, and many places in between, the storms caused flooding, disruption to electricity supplies and other dislocations of our normal routines.

 

It is possible that some measures could be taken to increase our protections from these acts of nature but we shall never be immune to them. The recent earthquake is evidence enough of that.

In some cases, though, compensation may be payable. I have been assured by EDF that anyone whose electricity supply was disrupted for 18 hours will be entitled to compensation and that EDF will be proactive in informing those who are eligible of their entitlement.

If anyone who thinks they are entitled to compensation fails to obtain satisfaction from EDF, I would be happy to help. Just write to me at the House of Commons (or come to one of my regular advice centres) and I shall do all I can to help.

This week has of course been a very important week in political life. We have a new prime Minister who is clearly keen to show us all that he is making a fresh start.

It will be interesting to see what changes he has in mind.

The question I would like him to answer is this.

Has he been trying, for the last 10 years, to persuade Tony Blair to accept all these new ideas and been rebuffed?

Or has he, despite the fact that he presumably thought they would be good for the country, been keeping them close to his chest so that he could take the credit for them when he became Prime Minister?

I think I may have to wait a long time for the answer.

Finally on Monday, when the news of the merger between Saga and the AA came out, I spoke to Andrew Goodsell, Saga’s Chief Executive. He assured me that there were no adverse job implications for Folkestone and that the corporate headquarters of the new group will be in Sandgate. I think this development is a measure of Saga’s continuing success which we can all be proud of.