HC Deb 23 January 1986 vol 90 cc249-51W
7. Mr. Baldry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to raise the public profile of civil defence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

Yes. My colleagues and I will take all suitable opportunities to explain the need to plan against a range of emergencies including war. Later this year we plan to produce new information material including a film to promote this all hazards approach.

9. Sir Anthony Kershaw

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any further civil defence handbooks are in preparation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Handbooks of guidance to local authorities on communications and on environmental health are in preparation.

33. Mr. Cash

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take against local authorities which do not fulfil their obligations under the civil defence regulations.

Mr. Giles Shaw

My right hon. Friend will consider this when the assessment of progress on implementation of the 1983 regulations is complete. The Government are determined to ensure that all local authorities meet their obligations under the civil defence regulations and will take whatever steps are necessary.

43. Mr. Neil Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in support of 100 per cent. grant-aid for emergency planning staff salaries.

56. Mr. Gerald Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in support of 100 per cent. grant-aid for all civil defence expenditure incurred by local authorities.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Support has been expressed by the National Council of Civil Defence, the Association of County Councils, the Association of District Councils and other interested organisations.

49. Mr Waller

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to issue local authorities with a staged programme for civil defence progress.

Mr. Giles Shaw

We plan to do so by the middle of the year.

59. Mr. Norris

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to provide direct communication links between county emergency centres and local British Broadcasting Corporation and commercial radio and television stations.

Mr. Giles Shaw

In a war emergency, local authorities would have access to the wartime broadcasting service through the regional government headquarters. There are no plans to provide direct links as such.

64. Mr. Bill Walker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is conducting any studies about emergency resource data for civil defence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

A pilot study is being undertaken in three areas to examine the need for resources registers for emergency planning and ways of identifying, collecting, storing and accessing data. The study is expected to be complete by the end of 1987.

65. Sir Geoffrey Finsberg

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to protect emergency communications against the effects of electromagnetic pulse.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friends the Members for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden) and for Ynys Môn (Mr. Best) on 5 December, at column 316.

70. Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has carried out any studies to investigate the public's general perception of civil defence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Research looking at people's general perception of civil defence was carried out last year. I referred to it, and its relevance to the preparation of new public information material, in my speech to the County Emergency Planning Officers' Society annual study on 30 October, a copy of which is in the Library.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which local authorities have submitted civil defence plans to his Department; and if he will place copies in the Library;

(2) if any of the civil defence plans submitted by local authorities to his Department include completed sections on each of the 12 subjects specified in schedule 2 to the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983.

Mr. Giles Shaw

We have received plans from the vast majority of county authorities and are in touch with the remainder. It would not be appropriate to give further details until our assessment is complete, nor to place copies in the Library. My right hon. Friend will make a report to the House in due course.