Civil Defence (Hansard, 11 December 1987)

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish guidance on the financial, staffing and resource implications of the Scottish Home and Health Department's circular "Emergency Planning in the National Health Service: Health Service Civil Defence Planning."

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
No. Specific funds have been made available since 1982 to health boards to assist with the costs of civil defence planning. Boards will be able to use these funds to take forward the planning tasks outlined in the circular.
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the Scottish Home and Health Department's circular "Emergency Planning in the National Health Service: Health Service Civil Defence Planning" issued on 6 July.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
None.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to draw up a staged programme of implementation of the civil defence duties of health boards as set out in the Scottish Home and Health Department's circular SHHD/DGM (1987) 41.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
Yes; and it will be issued in due course.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many health boards have followed the recommendations of his Department in appointing an emergency planning officer.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
All health boards have appointed an emergency planning officer.
315W

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why an assessment of the likely effects of the nuclear winter was not included among the civil defence plan-making duties of the health boards.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
There are a number of areas within the broad parameters of the planning guidance issued to the Health Service which may require further study and guidance. Consideration is being given to identifying these and to the best way to take them forward.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why assessment and guidance on the likely effect of deep psychological trauma on the public and medical personnel were not included in the civil defence plan-making duties of the health boards.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
This is one of several areas requiring further study.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with representatives of the medical professions on the moral and ethical problems associated with the policy of triage after nuclear attack; and when he will issue guidelines on the implementation of triage after nuclear attack.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
No such discussions have been held. Since the circumstances of any accident, whether as

Health board 1982–83 £ 1983–84 £ 1984–85 £ 1985–86 £ 1986–87 £

Argyll and Clyde 15,500 16,300 11,000 7,000 13,220

Ayrshire and Arran 13,200 13,900 11,000 11,000 12,940

Borders 16,200 9,400 6,500 10,800 8,950

Dumfries and Galloway 10,700 6,000 9,500 7,500 10,746

Fife 17,500 14,600 18,500 21,500 20,950

Forth Valley 15,800 10,300 6,500 9,500 11,522

Grampian 16,100 16,900 33,000 16,000 15,785

Greater Glasgow 32,800 34,400 14,000 21,500 15,000

Highland 11,500 7,900 12,500 9,000 9,500

Lanarkshire 19,300 20,300 18,100 20,500 19,642

Lothian 37,600 30,050 14,000 13,000 5,253

Orkney 1,900 1,800 2,000 3,000 7,822

Shetland 1,900 2,000 2,000 3,000 5,000

Tayside 13,600 17,800 18,000 19,000 14,400

Western Isles 5,100 2,200 2,500 3,000 7,380

C.S.A. — 39,400 30,500 40,000 37,000

Total 228,700 243,250 209,600 215,300 215,110

Health board	1982–83 £	1983–84 £	1984–85 £	1985–86 £	1986–87 £
Argyll and Clyde	15,500	16,300	11,000	7,000	13,220
Ayrshire and Arran	13,200	13,900	11,000	11,000	12,940
Borders	16,200	9,400	6,500	10,800	8,950
Dumfries and Galloway	10,700	6,000	9,500	7,500	10,746
Fife	17,500	14,600	18,500	21,500	20,950
Forth Valley	15,800	10,300	6,500	9,500	11,522
Grampian	16,100	16,900	33,000	16,000	15,785
Greater Glasgow	32,800	34,400	14,000	21,500	15,000
Highland	11,500	7,900	12,500	9,000	9,500
Lanarkshire	19,300	20,300	18,100	20,500	19,642
Lothian	37,600	30,050	14,000	13,000	5,253
Orkney	1,900	1,800	2,000	3,000	7,822
Shetland	1,900	2,000	2,000	3,000	5,000
Tayside	13,600	17,800	18,000	19,000	14,400
Western Isles	5,100	2,200	2,500	3,000	7,380
C.S.A.	—	39,400	30,500	40,000	37,000
Total	228,700	243,250	209,600	215,300	215,110