§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the procedures for civil defence and home defence planning and training in the police forces; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he is satisfied with the role of the Association of Chief Police Officers in civil defence and home defence planning and training in the police forces; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he is satisfied with the liaison between the armed forces and the police forces over civil defence and home defence planning and training; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will make a statement on Government research into the rôle of the police in civil defence and home defence; and if he will make a statement.;
(5) if he is satisfied with the liaison arrangements as regards contingency planning, preparations and training in the United Kingdom police forces and armed forces, and the relevant North Atlantic Treaty Organisation committees responsible for civil defence and home defence planning; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawYes, although no doubt, within the range of the hon. Member's questions, some increased satisfaction could he obtained.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to replace the 1975 document, "Police Manual of Home Defence."
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe police manual of Home Defence was replaced by guidance to the police service on war emergency planning in 1985. A copy is in the Library.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects his information pack on the police role in civil defence to be completed; how he expects this document to be used in explaining the police role to civil defence volunteers; what other functions he expects the pack to perform; and if it will be available to the general public.
§ Mr. Giles ShawInformation on the role of the police in wartime will be included in the training package being prepared by a Home Office working party, and should be available in the autumn. The package will provide recommended material — in the form of instructional notes, student notes and other training aids—for use in the tuition of civil defence volunteers.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he has any plans for the police and armed forces to be involved in the training of civil defence volunteers.
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§ Mr. Giles ShawWe are satisfied with the present contribution made by the police; the armed forces are not involved.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those civil defence publications and other materials that his Department will make available in 1986; when they will be available; and what other materials he has plans for thereafter.
§ Mr. Giles ShawNo detailed decisions have yet been taken, but we expect the material to be issued this year and will include: new public information material comprising a film and a booklet; a package of volunteer training material; guidance on the preparation of plans, the planned programme for implementation of the 1983 regulations and research findings.
It is too early to say what will be published thereafter.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been sent out to local authorities by Mr. Eric Alley, civil defence adviser to his Department in the period from 21 November 1985 to 1 July 1986; with which authorities Mr. Alley has engaged in correspondence; and if he will publish the text of all such correspondence in the Official Report.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIn the period from 21 November 1985 to 1 July 1986 Mr. Alley, civil defence adviser, wrote approximately 66 letters to local authorities. The authorities with whom he has engaged in correspondence are listed below:—
County Councils, FCDAs and Regional Councils Avon CC Norfolk CC Bucks CC Lincolnshire CC Clwyd CC West Glamorgan CC Devon CC Somerset CC Dyfed CC Grampian RC Cornwall CC Gloucestershire CC Dorset CC Tyne and Wear CC Tayside RC Merseyside CC Gwynedd CC West Yorks CC Wiltshire CC Oxford CC Surrey CC Oxfordshire CC Northumberland CC Hertfordshire CC Leicestershire CC Warwickshire CC Borders Regional Council Lancashire CC Greater London Council North Yorks CC Northants CC West Midlands FCDA Lothian CC South Yorks FCDA District North Cornwall DC Carmarthen DC Woodspring DC Vale of Glamorgan BC Hastings BC Oxford City DC North Kesteven DC Braintree DC Publication of the text of all such correspondence would not be appropriate.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the voluntary organisations that Mr. Eric Alley, civil defence adviser to his Department has met in the period since his appointment, with which such bodies he has engaged in correspondence; and if he will publish the text of all correspondence in the Official Report.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMr. Alley has met representatives of the WRVS and the National Voluntary Civil Aid Services. A meeting with the national joint emergency executive544W committee of the Red Cross and St. John is currently being arranged. He has corresponded with all three. It would not be appropriate to publish the texts.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to issue local authorities with guidance on the role of voluntary organisations in civil defence; and if he intends to identify specific such organisations.
§ Mr. Giles ShawGuidance is already included in emergency planning guidance to local authorities issued in 1985.