HC Deb 21 December 1989 vol 164 c454W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that guidance on war time rationing schemes for councils, resulting from a recent consultation exercise with local authority associations will contain specific provision for(a) ethnic minorities, (b) people with disabilities, (c) the homeless, (d) the illiterate and (e) those who decide to self-evacuate; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The Ministry takes its civil defence responsibilities seriously and will ensure that arrangements are as accessible as possible to the whole community. No doubt the hon. Member will encourage his local authority to take a full and constructive part in current consultations with local authority associations.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has considered the possibility of using poll tax registers as a basis for the distribution of ration documents in a war emergency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The community charge legislation contains no provision for local authorities to use information collected for the purposes of the community charge for other purposes.