§ Mr. Moateasked the Prime Minister which Cabinet Minister is responsible for co-ordinating Government action in the event of emergencies and natural disasters such as the recent East Coast floods; and if he is satisfied with the level of Government preparedness for such emergencies.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Minister in the lead will depend on the requirements of the particular emergency. In general, responsibility for dealing with natural disasters and emergencies rests with local authorities in the first instance, and ministerial responsibility for local authority mattes in England rests with the Secretary of State for the Environment.
In the case of disasters such as the recent floods local authorities have wide powers under Section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 to initiate any action they consider ecessary. They have been helped, of course, by the full range of emergecy services, and, where necessary, by the Armed Forces. Judging by the way in which the authorities, both local and central, responded to the recent emergency, the arrangements have worked well, but if the hon. Member has any particular points in mind I will arrange for them to be considered.