HC Deb 16 January 1984 vol 52 cc62-3W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Merseyside Action for Peace concerning civil defence; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

A letter was received from the Merseyside Action for Peace on 12 December and answered on 9 January. It complained about the county emergency control centre in Liverpool,, and advocated what was described as a more positive approach to disarmament negotiations. The letter showed a total misunderstanding of the purpose of civil defence. The reply explained the purpose of these centres and the need for civil defence planning. It also confirmed the Government's commitment to multilateral disarmament.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to implement the plans for the provision of more information to the public about civil defence which were mentioned in the opening subparagraph of paragraph 3 of his Department's circular No. ES 1/1981.

Mr. Hurd

The civil defence publications and circulars available to the public are listed in section 24 of the booklet "Civil Defence—The Basic Facts", copies of which are available in the Library. The booklet "Protect and Survive" will be replaced by further publications in due course. The scientific rules for assessing casualties from nuclear explosions are being reviewed and the results will be published as soon as the work is completed. Briefing and facilities are made available to the media to assist the production of programmes and articles.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any local authorities have yet to select premises for use as wartime headquarters in compliance with subparagraph (a) of paragraph 3 of his Department's circular No. ES 1/1981.

Mr. Hurd

Seven county and 63 district level authorities have yet to establish emergency centres as first requested in paragraph 19 of Home Office circular No. ES 1/1972 and paragraph 3(a) of ES1/1981, and as now required by regulations 4(1)(b) and (3) and 5(1)(c) of the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulation 1983.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has issued the detailed guidance on the conduct by local authorities of surveys to identify buildings and structures possibly suitable as communal shelters which was promised in the final sentence of subparagraph (b) of paragraph 3 of his Department's circular No. ES 1/1981.

Mr. Hurd

The guidance on shelter surveys has now been drafted and will be issued, after consultation with the local authority associations, as a section of the consolidated circular to be published this year.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any amendment has been made or is contemplated to the assumptions for making plans for community organisation in war contained in paragraph 4 of his Department's circular No. ES 2/1981.

Mr. Hurd

We plan to issue further guidance later this year.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has monitored the implementation by local authorities of the recommendations of the Home Defence Scientific Advisory Committee's sub-committee on training regarding the basic training system for scientific advisers which is described in his Department's circular No. ES 2/1982.

Mr. Hurd

Records of scientific advisers, including their state of training, are maintained by the Home Office.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the Home Office "ES" series of circulars relating to civil defence which are currently valid, giving the reference number and title of each, together with any related security classification.

Mr. Hurd

All but one of the unclassified Home Office circulars in the "ES" series are listed in section 24 of the booklet "Civil Defence—The Basic Facts", copies of which are available in the Library. The exception is ES 1/1983 (Civil Defence Act 1948 — Subordinate Legislation) which was issued on 30 November 1983.

Only three civil defence circulars in the series are classified. They are ES 2/1972 (Police Deployment in War — Confidential), 5/1975 (Wartime Communications —Restricted) and 6/1975 (Post Office Emergency Communications—Restricted).