HC Deb 25 November 1988 vol 142 c37W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if guidance on the disposal of the dead in the event of war has been issued to police forces; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if the Metropolitan police has received training or instruction regarding the disposal of the dead in the event of war; and if he will make a statement;

(3) when the subject of disposal of the dead in war was last discussed at meetings of (a) the police war duties committee and (b) the standing working party of police staff officers on home defence planning; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

All police forces have been advised that the disposal of the dead in war is a local authority responsibility. Questions of discussion with representatives of the police service and training have not therefore arisen.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the local authority civil defence plans for the disposal of the dead in war requested by his Department for the October deadline of the planned programme for implementation.

Mr. Hurd

Such plans, and plans in relation to a number of other civil defence matters, are being examined by officials of my Department. The regular discussions with individual local authorities which take place as part of the planned programme for implementation enable conclusions to be conveyed to them.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the subject of disposal of the dead in war was last discussed at the Civil Defence committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

The proceedings of the Civil Defence committee are subject to a NATO security classification.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources are being made available to London local authorities to draw up plans to deal with the disposal of dead bodies in the event of nuclear war.

Mr. Hurd

Civil defence grant is payable towards expenses incurred by local authorities in London in carrying out their statutory function to make, keep under review and revise such plans.