§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for grant aid to local authorities under the proposed new Civil Defence regulations; and in what ways such criteria differ from those currently in force.
§ Mr. MayhewThe criteria for payment of grant aid to local authorities are set out in the Civil Defence (Grant) Regulations 1953, as amended. Broadly, they provide for the prior approval of expenditure by local authorities on civil defence and its subsequent verification and local audit. These arrangements will remain unchanged under the proposed new civil defence regulations. It is, however, proposed to amend the schedule to the 1953 regulations to extend the scope of complete reimbursement to approved local authority expenditure on civil defence communications (and directly related equipment), and the training and excercising of local authority staff and volunteers.