HC Deb 24 March 1987 vol 113 cc89-90W
Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference for each working group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Civil Defence Committee; what is the post, rank, and responsibilities of each representative of the United Kingdom on the working group of the Civil Defence Committee; and who attends which working groups.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Civil Defence Committee has a working group which prepares for meetings of the Civil Defence Committee and may discuss any matters relevant to that committee. United Kingdom representation is from F6 (Emergency Planning) Division of the Home Office at grade 5 or 7. It also has two sub-groups of experts which provide more specialised fora for consideration of medical and warning and monitoring matters. The United Kingdom representatives are a senior medical officer in the Department of Health and Social Security and the director of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation (grade 6 ) respectively.

Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply of 12 January, Official Report, column 67, why the minutes of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Civil Defence Committee carry a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation security classification; how many North Atlantic Treaty Organisation security classifications there are; if he will list them; and if he will explain the criteria applied by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation when deciding to place civil defence information under a security classification.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation uses four security classifications: restricted, confidential, secret and top secret. The unauthorised disclosure of information in these categories would be increasingly damaging to the Alliance. There are no distinct criteria applicable only to civil defence information.

Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the title and duties of the senior employee of British Telecommunications plc who sits on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Civil Communications Planning Committee; what meetings, in addition to the annual plenary session, are held by the Civil Communications Planning Committee; and where these meetings take place.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

United Kingdom representation at the Civil Communications Planning Committee is provided by an official at grade 7 from the Home Office directorate of telecommunications. He is supported by a senior member of staff from the Government services division of British Telecom International as occasion demands.

In addition to two plenary sessions of the Committee held annually, working groups of the committee have been meeting up to a total of nine times each year. Meetings are normally held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, but may be held in other locations at the invitation of member states of the Alliance.

Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make the minutes of the plenary sessions of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Civil Communications Planning Committee available in the Library.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

No. The minutes of the Civil Communications Planning Committee carry a NATO security classification.