Watching BBC news broadcasts yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the tone and content of transport secretary Philip Hammond's comments on the eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano in Iceland. Not only are forecasters and civil aviation authorities better prepared this year than they were for the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010, the level of public information is greatly improved.
In his TV interviews, Hammond showed that he had been very well briefed by the relevant experts. In turn he explained clearly and comprehensibly what we know to be happening with the Grimsvötn volcano, and the risks involved.
Do Hammond's comments herald a new official approach to public information in times of crisis? I certainly hope so. It's about time that the government stopped treating the people as uniformly stupid.
Francis
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