Civil Defence (Hansard, 5 May 1987)

§ Mr. Redmond
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when county emergency planning teams will be told their allocation of emergency feeding equipment, including field cookers, Soyer boilers and food containers, and from where it can be obtained.
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§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Local authorities were informed a month ago that MA FF regional offices would be providing them with updated information on this matter. Letters will shortly be sent to them.

§ Mr. Redmond
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when local authorities will be notified of the identity of emergency food stocks controlled by his Department to aid them in making their emergency feeding plans.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The composition of the food stockpile maintained by my Department is identified in section 11 of the "Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities" which makes it clear that this is a national asset to be used in areas of greatest need. Consideration is being given to whether the release of further information would be helpful to local authorities in their planning.

§ Mr. Redmond
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when local authorities will be notified of the location and inventory of EEC intervention stocks to aid them in making their emergency feeding plans.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
It is not the custom to reveal details of EC intervention stocks held in individual stores but this information is maintained and would be released to local authorities if appropriate.

§ Mr. Redmond
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department have consulted local authorities on the issuing of ration cards for use in a period of international tension; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
This is one of the matters with which my Department is concerned as part of its routine civil defence planning. Useful consultations are taking place with representatives of local authorities about the arrangements necessary to implement food control in crisis and war, including the issue of ration cards.