§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what encouragement the Government are planning to give to local authorities to develop civil defence to cope with peacetime emergencies as well as with war; and if he will seek to amend the Civil Defence Act 1948 accordingly.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe existing guidance to local authorities will be incorporated in the consolidated emergency planning guidance to local authorities, to be issued in the near future, makes clear that there is no objection to the use of civil defence resources in planning for peacetime emergencies provided that this is done without detriment to the performance for an authority's civil defence duties. It remains our intention to fulfil the manifesto commitment with regard to extending the Civil Defence Act 1948 at the earliest practicable opportunity.