HC Deb 14 December 1989 vol 163 cc787-8W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the proposed criteria for suitability of civil defence volunteers drawn up by the London fire and civil defence authority.

Mr. John Patten

This is entirely a matter for the London fire and civil defence authority.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the all-hazards approach to planning will involve civil defence community volunteers in civil emergencies.

Mr. John Patten

The use of civil defence community volunteers is a matter for individual local authorities to determine. We are aware that some local authorities have involved such volunteers in their response to recent civil emergencies.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the London fire and civil defence authority has co-operated in providing his Department with information about London boroughs' civil defence expenditure.

Mr. John Patten

Yes.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what national voluntary organisations are being considered for the recruitment of civil defence volunteers; and if he will make a statement:

(2) which national voluntary organisations have been contacted by his Department during the past 12 months on the matter of civil defence community volunteers.

Mr. Waddington

The involvement of national voluntary organisations in assisting local authorities with their community volunteer schemes is one of the options we are considering as part of a wider review of the role and organisation of civil defence community volunteers. No decisions on future policy have yet been taken. A discussion paper examining the options was circulated to interested parties earlier this year. The national voluntary organisations formally consulted were the Women's Royal Voluntary Service; British Red Cross; St. John Ambulance Brigade; and Civil Aid.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether details of advances of civil defence grant aid for the London boroughs have been contained in returns made by the London fire and civil defence authority for the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

No such details are required in returns made to the Home Office by the London fire and civil defence authority. Advance payments in connection with civil defence grant are decided in the light of estimates of qualifying expenditure submitted by local authorities. Such advances are made to county councils and fire and civil defence authorities rather than to individual boroughs and districts.