§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the draft Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983, issued for consultation on 3 December 1982, by what means local authorities will be required to transfer members of the civil population from one area to another in the event of hostile attack or threat of hostile attack; whether evacuation facilities will be provided by central Government; and what estimate he has made of the cost of transfer and maintenance of populations so moved.
§ Mr. MayhewThe draft regulations would impose upon local authorities the function of making, keeping under review and revising plans for the transfer of populations. In exercising this function, each local authority would be under a duty to comply with any directions given to it by the designated Minister in such circumstances as might prevail.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his powers to take action against local government employees who refuse to take part in 7W training exercises in civil defence organised by or on behalf of the designated Minister under the proposed Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations.
§ Mr. MayhewThe draft regulations now under consultation would confer functions on local authorities which would be responsible for ensuring that their employees assist them to perform those functions.