§ Baroness Macleod of Borveasked Her Majesty's Government:
1357WAWhat is the outcome of the review of the arrangements in the United Kingdom for warning of air attacks and monitoring their effects.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has received the report of the review. With the agreement of my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Defence, a summary of its principal findings has today been placed in the Library of the House. The review has been conducted with great thoroughness and amounts to the most comprehensive analysis of our warning and monitoring arrangements for many years.
1358WAThe review took account of current planning assumptions, technological advances and wider developments in civil protection. It made proposals for the development of a new warning system and for the automation of functions associated with monitoring. It also assessed the extent to which the warning and monitoring arrangements might usefully be applied to certain peacetime emergencies.
The programme of change proposed will require detailed scrutiny. In particular, the financial and operational implications will need further consideration by means of a number of detailed studies in key areas. No decisions have been taken about the review at this stage. Officials will now consult widely on its findings.