SNP Big Freeze defence collapses with Met Office revelation

Today's statement from the Transport Minister painted a picture that the only Met Office advice the Scottish Government received was at 16.01 on Sunday December 5th and 08.01 on Monday December 6th, neither of which forecast severe snow.

This defence has now collapsed with the revelation that the Met Office issued a severe weather warning at 20.40 on Sunday December 5th [see notes].

Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:

"This is not a time for subterfuge and spin – it beggars belief for the SNP to selectively quote from Met Office reports to back up the pretence that Monday's snow was "unforecasted".

"The Met Office issued a severe weather warning at 20.40 on Sunday evening, a warning which the BBC took seriously enough to immediately broadcast.

"The Scottish Government is looking shifty, defensive and weak. Whilst people in the real world are going through hell, the Scottish Government has been basking in some unique form of self-preservation and denial."

Please find below a copy of the severe weather warning issued on Sunday 5th December 2010 at 8.44pm

From: SMTP Gateway - Met Office, Aberdeen (Scotland)

[mailto:nimbusautombu@metoffice.gov.uk]

Sent: 05 December 2010 20:44

Subject: NSWWS Flash Warning

Importance: High

NATIONAL SEVERE WEATHER WARNING SERVICE

Flash Warning of

- Widespread Icy Roads

- Heavy Snow

For the following areas

- Strathclyde (Severe)

- Edinburgh (Severe)

- Falkirk (Severe)

- Midlothian (Severe)

- Stirling (Severe)

- W Lothian (Severe)

A band of wintry showers will spread southeast early on Monday

morning, the showers turning increasingly to snow away from the west

coast. Initially the showers will fall onto frozen surfaces with

widespread ice developing on untreated roads and pavements, and

accumulations of 2 to 5cm of snow are expected, locally 10cm over

the hills. The public are advised to take extra care and refer to

"Traffic Scotland" for further advice on road conditions.

Issued by the Met Office at 20:42 on Sunday, 05th December 2010

Valid from 05:00 on Monday, 06th December 2010

until 12:00 on Monday, 06th December 2010

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