§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations involved in civic emergency disaster planning in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. John PattenPlanning for peacetime emergencies involves a very wide range of organisations. These include central and local government, emergency services, the public utilities and voluntary organisations, but other organisations may also be involved.
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§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the civil emergency disaster planning organisations to bring them under one body; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenIn 1989 the Home Office completed a review of the response to civil emergencies. The Government concluded that the prime responsibility for handling particular disasters should remain at the local level but that there should be improved arrangements for co-ordinated emergency planning. These conclusions were announced in a written answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 15 June 1989 at column514.
A civil emergencies adviser was appointed following the review and one of the matters he is considering is how planning procedures might be improved.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year for the last 10 years in real terms the amount spent on civil defence emergency planning.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information requested, at 1990–91 prices, is as follows:
£ thousands 1980–81 62,587 1981–82 51,261 1982–83 78,338 1983–84 93,712 1984–85 93,336 1985–86 109,449 1986–87 111,019 1987–88 116,643 1988–89 122,899 1989–90 1129,229 1 Estimated.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will carry out a review to give fire and civil defence authorities the same statutory powers as county councils in dealing with emergency planning; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenUnder section 156 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, fire and civil defence authorities have power to incur expenditure in preparing emergency plans for a possible emergency or disaster.
My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to change those arrangements. He has, however, asked his civil emergencies adviser, Mr. Brook, to consider whether there should be a statutory duty on local authorities to plan for peacetime emergencies. His report is awaited.