HL Deb 01 March 1983 vol 439 cc1034-5

2.58 p.m.

Lord Mottistone

My Lords, I have been asked by my noble friend Lord Renton to ask his Question as he cannot be here. I beg leave to ask the Question standing in the name of my noble friend on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to lay new civil defence regulations before Parliament for approval.

The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Young)

My Lords, consultations with the local authority associations are still in progress. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary hopes to lay the new regulations in draft form as soon as consultations are completed.

Lord Mottistone

My Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend for that Answer. May I ask whether it is not a fact that at the beginning of last month in another place, her honourable friend said that it was hoped that the facts will be put together by the end of March? Is it not unfortunate that she cannot repeat that statement now?

Baroness Young

My Lords, the timetable has always been quite clear. The consultation paper setting out the new regulations was issued early in October, and on 3rd December the draft of the general regulations became available, and comments were asked for by 31st January. These comments are still being considered and Ministers agreed to receive deputations from the local authority associations about the regulations. I hope that it will not be too long before the regulations themselves can be laid.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, if more money is to be spent on civil defence, is it not proper that it should be a national charge on national taxation and that no portion of it should fall on the rates of local authorities?

Baroness Young

My Lords, one of the purposes of the regulations will be to increase grant aid from 75 per cent. to 100 per cent. in certain specific instances. The view which the Government have taken is that civil defence must necessarily be a local authority responsibility because in any emergency it will be the responsibility of local people. It is therefore right that they should have a financial contribution to make to the cost of the service. But the Government are giving a 75 per cent. grant on these new proposals.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, may I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Young, for that reply? May I ask whether it is fair that an area vulnerable to enemy attack such as London should have to pay only the same amount as a place which is not vulnerable, such as the Highlands of Scotland?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I believe it is difficult for anybody in your Lordships' House to speculate on what areas might or might not be subject to some future emergency. What is important is that every area of Great Britain should have plans for civil defence, and the new regulations will build on those plans.

Lord Glenkinglas

My Lords, will my noble friend Lady Young remind the House that the Highlands of Scotland are extremely vulnerable because almost all of the Polaris submarine bases are there?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. I am sure that the Highlands are not only vulnerable but are also important.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, is the noble Baroness, Lady Young, aware of the theory which seems to be current in London that one can save oneself this nonsense expenditure by declaring oneself a nuclear-free zone?

Baroness Young

Yes, my Lords, and I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Paget of Northampton, will pass on that view to some of his colleagues. The Government hope very much that local authorities will implement the regulations: it will be very unfortunate indeed if any of them are thought to be breaking the law.

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