Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will identify (a) liason 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. David MitchellOfficials from my Department participate fully in the work of the following civil NATO planning boards and committees concerned with transport:
- Planning Board for Ocean Shipping
- Planning Board for European Inland Surface Transport
- Civil Aviation Planning Committee and various sub-committees and working groups of these bodies.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will identify the terms of reference of 253W 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.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe work carried out by the Department on civil emergencies encompasses the preparation, co-ordination and implementation of plans for the maintenance of essential services in an emergency. Home defence planning involves the preparation of similar plans for use in a time of tension and war, and the provision of certain support to the armed services.
The numbers of staff involved and the annual budgets in recent years have been as follows:
1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 Staff 62 62 62 Annual Budget £4.5 million £5.3 million £4.9 million These figures do not allow for staff who may do a limited amount of work on civil emergencies incidental to their normal duties.