THE PRIME minister has promised to personally help a family still struggling eight months after losing their business in the riots.
David Cameron's pledge to look into Amrit and Ravi Khurmy's compensation claim was made in parliament after their plight was raised by Ed Milliband, the leader of the opposition.
The couple, whose Ealing Green Local Supermarket, was left in ruins after it was firebombed on August 8, met Mr Milliband and the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg in Whitehall at a reception for riot victims two weeks ago.
At prime minister's questions last Wednesday Mr Milliband pointed out that only half of claims by the uninsured under the Riot (Damages) Act had been settled.
And said: "At a reception last week organised by the Deputy Prime Minister, he and I met Amrit Khurmy, the owner of Ealing Green supermarket...She is still waiting to receive any compensation. Does the prime minister agree that, eight months on, that it is just not right? Does he further agree that ultimately it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that she gets the compensation that she deserves?"
Mr Cameron replied: "I agree with the right honourable gentleman, and I will look into that specific case."
He said he accepted there have been problems with the Riot (Damages) Act but the government had introduced extra funds which paid out faster.
Amrit Khurmy, said: "It seems like good news but we've been promised things before so I'll believe it when it happens."
Despite working all the hours she can at her old job as a beauty consultant at Estee Lauder in Heathrow, the married mother-of-two is struggling to put food on the table and cover other essentials as 90 per cent of her wages go on their Heston home's mortgage.
She added: "Ravi has had some second interviews but is still looking for work.
"It's heartbreaking. I just keep telling my children that things are going to get better. It's been eight months and I've been saying that since day one. I'm hoping this nightmare is finally coming to an end."
