HC Deb 20 December 1984 vol 70 cc539-40
7. Mr. Robert Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much time he expects the principal of the Civil Defence college, Easingwold, to spend on co-ordinating civil defence volunteers.

8. Dr Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibility the principal of the Civil Defence college, Easingwold, will have in advising local authorities on what organisation to adopt for their civil defence volunteers.

Mr. Giles Shaw

How to optimise the allocation of his time seems a matter best left to the principal's judgment in the light of his experience and the respective needs from time to time of the college and volunteer co-ordination. The precise organisation for volunteers is a matter for local authorities to decide in the light of the guidance available to them in Home Office circular ES 2/1981 and any advice offered by the principal.

Mr. Banks

Does my hon. Friend agree that volunteers in the civil defence movement are in the front line of that programme? Does he also agree that we need many more and better organised volunteers? Surely this matter would be better in the hands of one person, who would be better able to co-ordinate the activities of local authorities and other voluntary organisations?

Mr. Shaw

I entirely agree that it is important to recognise the importance of volunteers and to encourage them to join the civil defence movement. However, the decision regarding the principal will make the resources of the Civil Defence college available to him in his task of improving the recruitment and training of volunteers.

Dr. Glyn

As my hon. Friend has answered the main question, may I now ask him a more important question? In the event of hostilities, is my hon. Friend satisfied that, after regional government has been installed, the role of the Army will be sufficiently important and well established to view what will be essentially a military rather than a civilian capability? As the emergency will be dealt with by civilians who, incidentally, will not be elected, is my hon. Friend satisfied that the Army will be able to execute its duties?

Finally, I thank my hon. Friend for his work on this subject.

Mr. Shaw

My hon. Friend has asked a very fair question. The degree of co-operation between the civil defence and the military is already very close. Might I remind him that earlier this year we began an exercise in the north-west of the country which will bring together all the emergency services as a training exercise. That will include the Army's contribution, which is very important. May I conclude by wishing my hon. Friend a merry Christmas.

Mr. Hill

Will my hon. Friend say how any organisation of civil defence volunteers can be set up in local authority areas, such as Southampton, which declare themselves nuclear-free zones and take no precautions whatsoever? Have they some mysterious treaty with Moscow saying that they are nuclear-free zones and should be excluded—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That question is rather wide of Easingwold.