HC Deb 16 June 1988 vol 135 cc212-3W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for northern Ireland whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

Neither the Northern Ireland Office nor the Northern Ireland Departments have any direct involvement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, but their interests are fully represented on the appropriate NATO bodies by relevant central Government Departments.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments have a remit to prepare and review contingency plans to deal with those peacetime civil emergencies which fall within their main areas of responsibility. Civil Defence planning in Northern Ireland is carried out under the authority of the Civil Defence Act (Northern Ireland) 1950 and is in line with current arrangements throughout the United Kingdom.

The number of staff involved was 12 for 1985–86 and 1986–87 and is currently 11.

1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 Totals
£ £ £ £ £ £
1. Capital grants to district councils1 6,303,001 4,925,815 3,829,751 2,359,192 1,750,616 19,168,375
2. Capital grants to voluntary sports clubs 1,150,459 1,407,567 759,604 348,156 290,650 3,956,436
3. Sports councils for Northern Ireland 905,641 980,156 1,118,212 1,146,199 1,219,124 5,369,332
4. Sports sponsorship incentive scheme nil 140,534 76,899 103,698 70,328 391,459
Totals 8,359,101 7,454,072 5,784,466 3,957,245 3,330,718 28,885,602
1 Includes grants for the provision of community facilities which cannot be given separately.

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