§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the criteria by which his Department judges an event to be a disaster;
(2) who is responsible for co-ordinating the emergency services when a disaster has been declared;
(3) who is responsible for determining whether an event is classified by his Department as a disaster.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe term "disaster" has no special significance in connecton with peacetime emergencies. The action to be taken in each case is determined by the particular circumstances, not by predetermined criteria. Except in the case of a fire, the police normally co-ordinate the initial response of the emergency services. In the case of emergencies which cannot be dealt with by these services alone, local authorities are responsible for co-ordination.