Civil Defence (Hansard, 12 December 1986)

§ Mr. D. E. Thomas
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which grants were made to local authorities in the United Kingdom under the Civil Defence (Grant) Regulations 1983 for 1985–86; and what are projected for these authorities in 1986–87.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The Civil Defence (Grant) (Amendment) Regulations 1983 set out those expenses incurred by local and police authorities in the discharge of their civil defence functions which are completely reimbursed by way of grant. Civil defence expenses other than those specified in the 1983 regulations are subject to 75 per cent. reimbursement under the Civil Defence (Grant) Regulations 1953. The total grant payable in 1985–86 to authorities in England and Wales under the 1953 regulations has not yet been finalised, but the provisional figure is £11,726,208. The projected figure for 1986–87 is £13,775,250.

§ Mr. D. E. Thomas
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will identify the terms of reference and frequency of meetings of (a) the Police War Duties Committee and (b) the Standing Working Party of Police Staff Officers on home defence planning;
(2) if he will identify the relationship between his Department and the Police War Duties Committee; and the extent and mechanisms for liaison between his Department and that committee.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The Police War Duties Committee (PWDC) is a committee of the central conference of chief constables. It meets as necessary, currently on an annual basis, to discuss developments in civil defence and police war duties planning. Detailed co-ordination of planning is undertaken by the standing working party of police staff officers, which meets three times a year and reports to PWDC. Both are chaired by a Home Office official.

§ Mr. D. E. Thomas
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he anticipates work on the home defence headquarters for regional 81, north Wales, to begin; what is the projected cost of the construction work (a) in total, (b) in the financial year 1986–87 and (c) in the financial year 1987–88; and how much work he expects construction to generate locally.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Arrangements for construction work are under consideration, but a start is unlikely to be made in the next two years.