§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training for civil defence his Department is undertaking; how many staff are engaged on it; and what is the annual cost.
§ Mr. HurdCivil defence training by the Home Office is undertaken centrally at the civil defence college; by the scientific research and development branch (SRDB) for scientific advisers; and the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation for warning and monitoring volunteers.
The college employs a directing and tutorial staff of 19. The total cost of the college in 1984–85 is expected to be about £1,268,000.
The SRDB training group consists of three full-time officials and two part-time consultants; training expenses are about £14,000 a year and staff costs approximately £47,000. Staff costs involved in the training of local authority scientific advisers are about a further £38,000.
About 15 staff of the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation are engaged fully or largely on training and exercising at an annual cost of £184,000.
§ Mr. Robert Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the county authorities having civil defence emergency headquarters to the approved Home Office standards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThis information is not yet available. The civil defence questionnaire issued on 31 May asks county councils and the Greater London council to provide this and other information about civil defence services.
§ Mr. Robert Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the 117W efficiency of communications between district, county and regional civil defence headquarters; and when he will determine the frequency waveband for teleprinters.
§ Mr. HurdThe emergency communications network is being extensively refurbished. A working party of our own and local government officials is considering the further improvement of emergency communications for local authorities within existing resource constraints.
Any proposals for radio communications, including the use of teleprinter terminals adapted for radio transmission, which required additional frequencies would have to be very carefully examined.