Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Home Office represents my Department's interests at NATO civil emergency planning boards and conducts liaison arrangements through the senior civil emergency planning committee. My Department is directly represented on the NATO petroleum planning committee and its working group, which meets regularly. The Department participates in relevant NATO exercises.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.
180W
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonMy Department, in conjunction with the energy industries, is required to prepare and has plans, including those for home defence, to meet any civil emergency arising in the production, supply and distribution of energy fuels in the United Kingdom as covered by the Energy Act 1976. The total number of departmental staff, including part-time staff, engaged on this work is 30. The annual budgets for the years listed were £240,000; £295,000 and £317,500 respectively.