HC Deb 08 March 1985 vol 74 c623W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what criteria grant applications for funds to build or improve emergency centres under the Civil Defence Regulations 1983 are assessed.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Civil defence grant is approved on the cost of adapting premises to meet the minimum standards set by the Home Office. In exceptional circumstances additional payments of grant are paid to local authorities which are faced with particular difficulties.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has funds available to local authorities for the maintenance of emergency centres.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The costs of maintenance of emergency centres is a matter for local authorities, except that grant aid is available for maintaining accommodation for communications as set out in Home Office circular No. ES 8/1973. A copy is in the Library of the House.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquiries from (a) members of the public and (b) voluntary organisations have been received by his Department about volunteering to take part in civil defence preparations.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Inquiries from members of the public are referred to the appropriate county emergency planning officer; no central record is kept of inquiries from voluntary organisations.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the revised casualty estimates after a nuclear attack will be published.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The number of people who would be killed in a nuclear attack cannot be predicted; and we therefore have no proposals to publish casualty estimates.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to produce a film on planning for peacetime emergencies.

Mr. Giles Shaw

No.