Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services 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.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe Department provides the United Kingdom civilian medical member of the NATO joint civil military medical group. The other United Kingdom member is a military doctor representing the Ministry of Defence.
The group, which meets twice a year, advises and reports to the NATO civil defence committee on matters involving joint civil/military planning and co-operation in peace and war and conducts a number of relevant studies. Members maintain liaison outside the formal meetings by acting as national points of postal contact.
The Department also takes an appropriate advisory and playing part in NATO exercises from time to time. 292W infant, perinatal, early neonatal and late neonatal deaths in England and Wales, jointly and separately for the years 1985 to 1987 inclusive.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe information requested is shown in the table.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services 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.
§ Mrs. CurrieThere are no terms of reference specific to this Department for work on civil emergencies and home defence planning. However, in concert with other Government Departments, we are committed to planning for peacetime emergencies and the effects of warfare, whether conventional or nuclear; plans for these are kept under constant review.
In this Department 5.5 whole-time equivalent staff are engaged in the work of civil and home defence planning.
Departmental costs for the last three years are as follows:
293W
£ million 1985–86 1.36 outturn 1986–87 1.12 outturn 1987–88 1.64 estimate These costs are attributable largely to storage of medical supplies and equipment. In addition, approximately £200,000 per annum is spent on staff costs.
The Department issues specific guidance to the National Health Service on several aspects of emergency planning. We expect shortly to issue a new circular on civil defence planning in the NHS which also includes revised guidance in response to nuclear accidents.