§ 3.19 p.m.
§ LORD ST. OSWALD rose to move, That the Draft Civil Defence (Disease) Regulations, 1960, reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday the 9th instant, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, under the Civil Defence Designation Order, 1951, my right honourable friend was designated as Minister responsible for taking measures to deal with casualties and disease, for the purpose of the Civil Defence Act, 1948. In respect of casualties, the Ambulance Regulations of 1951 and the Casualty Collection Regulations of 1954 passed on to local authorities the duties of making plans and giving training. They enabled those authorities to incur expenditure and receive grants for training both members of the Civil Defence Corps and members of their own staff.
§ Until now, similar duties in respect of disease under war-time conditions have not been passed on to local authorities. It is important that they should be, and the power to do so is now being sought under these Regulations. They allow grants to be made to local authorities towards their expenses in sending personnel to centrally-organised courses under the Ministry and towards training arrangements of their own. The Regulations now before your Lordships' House, if agreed to, will make it immediately possible to hold Civil Defence courses specifically related to the problems of disease in war for the public health staff of local authorities. These Regulations, being made under the Civil Defence Act, 1948, are subject to the Affirmative Resolution procedure, and I hope they will have your Lordships' approval. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Draft Civil Defence (Disease) Regulations, 1960, reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday the 9th instant, be approved.—(Lord St. Oswald.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.