§ 31. Mr. Aspinwallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for a comprehensive civil defence shelter and evacuation policy.
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§ Mr. Giles ShawIn the unlikely event of a nuclear attack no part of this country could be judged safe from all its effects and there is therefore no certain basis for an evacuation plan. The Government's plans currently rely on the implementation by local authorities of their plans made under the 1983 regulations, including the utilisation of buildings and other structures as public shelters and on people using and improving the protection already offered by their own homes. The matter is under review.
§ 54. Mr. Gerald Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources will be concentrated on planning for survival at community level for civil defence.
§ Mr. Giles ShawAll civil defence planning is ultimately directed at the survival of communities and the people within them, and expenditure in the current financial year is expected to be £80 million. Responsibility for planning specifically at the community level rests with the county authorities and the GLC assisted by district and borough authorities and the support available from the co-ordinator of volunteer effort. Total expenditure by local authorities on civil defence planning is expected to be £15 million in the current financial year; a level of expenditure within that total for particular aspects of planning has not been set.