Civil Defence

HC Deb 16 February 1984 vol 54 cc367-8

5. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had about civil defence regulations.

Mr. Hurd

Representations on the draft Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983 were received from the local authority associations and the GLC, together with over 500 written representations from local authorities, Members of Parliament, trades unions, other organisations, and members of the public.

Mr. Bennett

Can the Minister tell us how many of those were in favour of the regulations and whether any of the professional bodies whose members will have to carry out some of the regulations have sent in letters of support? Finally, will he tell us whether the Government are confident that people living in high rise flats, such as those in my constituency at Haughton Green and Brinnington, have any clear idea from the regulations and the advice that the Government are giving on civil defence what they should do in the face of a nuclear war?

Mr. Hurd

We received a wide variety of advice, and we took some of it. We altered the regulations. Parliament passed the regulations, and we now intend that they should be carried out. At the same time, we are making available updated information to cover the precise matter that the hon. Gentleman raised.

Mr. Rost

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the only action taken by Derbyshire county council has been to set up a so-called nuclear-free zone? Are not my constituents in towns like Ilkeston and Long Eaton right to be concerned at this disgraceful dereliction of the responsibility of a local authority to prepare for even simple emergencies, nuclear or non-nuclear?

Mr. Hurd

Certainly people are not the least bit safer because they live in an area which the council has declared a nuclear-free zone. In the questionnaire which I have mentioned we shall be asking all local authorities, later in the spring, how they are getting on with carrying out Parliament's wishes. We shall have to decide how to proceed from there.

Mr. Haynes

Is the Minister aware that I come from the county of Nottinghamshire, that Nottinghamshire county council has declared the county a nuclear-free zone, and that I am proud of that decision? As the Government and the right hon. Gentleman's ministerial colleagues are telling local authorities to spend wisely, why are they inviting local authorities to spend money of this kind unwisely, when it should be spent on areas of real need?

Mr. Hurd

Because planning and training in the use of existing resources, which is what civil defence is primarily about, could make a substantial difference to the chances of survival of the hon. Gentleman's constituents if these islands were again attacked.