§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to give to civil defence volunteers powers to safeguard items of artistic importance in the event of natural or manmade disaster.
§ Mr. LuceI have been asked to reply.
I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983 give local government authorities powers to recruit, train and exercise Civil Defence volunteers. The primary role of the volunteer is to safeguard the civilian population during and after an armed attack on this country. Although there is no specific provision for it in the regulations, they could take measures to protect art treasures if so directed at the time, but their first responsibility would remain to the welfare of the public. Similarly they could be used in the event of a natural disaster.
§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether items of artistic importance are listed in terms of priority for safeguarding in the event of natural or manmade disaster.
§ Mr. LuceI have been asked to reply.
Of the wide range of conceivable natural disasters which could affect national art treasures, only flooding in central London has been regarded as sufficiently probable and predictable to call for planning measures which were likely to be feasible and effective. This particular risk has now been eliminated by the completion of the Thames barrier.
Arrangements exist for safeguarding the most important of the nation's art treasures against the risk of destruction or damage in the event of war. As paragraph 2.9 of the Government's observations (Cmnd. 9127) on the Eighth Report from the Education, Science and Arts Committee, Session 1981–82, explained, the directors of national collections are asked to arrange for the earmarking of items to be moved if an emergency should arise.
The selection of the limited number of key items for which emergency transport and alternative accommodation can be provided is a matter for the authorities concerned with each collection. The Government's observations explained why it would not be in the public interest to publish further details of these arrangements.