Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister whether she will identify(a) liaison arrangements between the Cabinet Office 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 she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Cabinet Office is not represented on any NATO civil emergency planning board or committee, but it is kept informed of the work of these bodies, is consulted as appropriate by the relevant United 183W Kingdom representative and is involved in the formation of the United Kingdom's policy on issues that arise within them.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister whether she will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in the Cabinet Office, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for such work in 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Cabinet Office is responsible for the co-ordination of the Government's civil emergency and home defence planning. Nine staff are primarily engaged on this work. The annual budget for such work in the last three financial years is as follows:
Year £ million 1985–86 0.27 1986–87 0.35 1987–88 0.35