Firms lack terror plans

Two in five London businesses have no plans for dealing with a terrorist attack, a new survey warned today.

And small businesses are worst prepared for the nightmare scenario of a September 11-style strike, the survey found.

The report comes as counter-terrorism chiefs on both sides of the Atlantic prepare for a massive exercise dealing with a simulated attack on Britain and America.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has held talks in Washington DC with some of the White House's most senior security advisers.

The annual survey was carried out by business groups London First and the London Chamber of Commerce and the police's National Counter Ter rorism Security Office (NCTSO).

Richard Finn, of the NCTSO, said: "Small businesses often do not appreciate the effect that being caught up in an attack would have."