§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in relation to the military home defence exercises Eastern Shield, Capital Guard, Drake's Drum, Autumn Tiger, Northern Crusade, Western Encounter, Triple Crown and Strong Link scheduled to take place in September and October 1988, he will place copies of the exercise scenarios in the Library; if he will list those(a) local authorities, (b) health authorities, (c) police authorities, (d) water authorities and (e) others which have indicated their intention to (i) participate in, (ii) give assistance to, or (iii) observe each of these exercises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIt is the hope of district commanders that a number of non-military agencies will participate in, assist or observe the military home defence exercises which are taking place this autumn, although the details have not yet been finalised. It is likely that local authorities' participation will be limited to attendance at visitor days. The police are expected to take part in the exercises but the level of participation will vary at the discretion of individual chief constables. There will be some limited NHS involvement, with ambulance services and voluntary aid societies taking part in a number of the exercises. Water authority assistance is limited to the provision of a number of sites which will be used, at no cost to the authorities, to practise key point guarding. Planning is continuing for the participation of appropriate fire services, Customs and Excise officials, port and transport police. It is not our practice to release details of exercise scenarios.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military home defence exercises are due to take place in(a) the Scottish Highlands and (b) the Scottish Lowlands military districts during autumn 1988 in relation to those exercises due to take place in England and Wales; if he will place the exercise scenarios in the Library; arid if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartExercise Bonnie Dundee is the only military home defence exercise taking place in Scotland this autumn. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald) on 4 February. It is not our practice to give details of exercise scenarios.