Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. LeeThe Department of Employment has no liaison arrangements, and does no collaborative work, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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 313W number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeWork in the Department of Employment on civil emergencies and home defence planning is carried out within guidelines laid down by the Government. The work is done by staff, both in London and in the regional offices, who also have other duties. It is estimated that the total effort devoted to emergency planning is equivalent to about five full-time staff. This area of work is not costed separately, but is included in overall administrative costs and amounted to around £100,000 in the 1987–88 financial year; no figures are available for previous years.