Scottish Conservatives call for new weather warning system

Tomorrow, the Parliament will debate "Winter Resilience" following the severe weather of the last fortnight.

The Scottish Conservatives have tabled an amendment to the debate calling for a new "traffic light" system of severe weather warnings.

Shadow Transport minister, Jackson Carlaw MSP will say:

"If we accept that severe weather events may once again be emerging as part of the expected pattern of winter life then what can we do to better inform the public of what might be coming their way? We are after all able to command national attention in the face of a security alert with a rising scale of potential risk which is understood by the public.

"Surely then we should be able to implement a similar code as 'traffic light' severe weather warnings. At its most severe the advice would be clear – don't travel. At a level one step less severe people would appreciate that they should travel with extreme care and be prepared for an emergency.

"The introduction of such an authoritative scheme does not require the commitment of a major budget, it requires the application and energy of current ministers to effect its introduction. Today, I urge Ministers to consider implementing in the earliest course a new 'Traffic Light' National Emergency Weather System (acronym NEWS).

"In addition I urge the government to enter into discussions with broadcasters and in particular BBC Scotland to forge an agreement that when the severest weather emergency occurs the public can be assured that authoritative statements will be broadcast at least hourly by a partnership of government, Transport Scotland and the Police which will seek to give the public reliable information on which they can take informed decisions. For those stranded and conserving power, the certainty of the regular timing of such broadcasts would offer both advice and reassurance."

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