HC Deb 14 February 1989 vol 147 cc109-10W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to issue guidance on planning for the National Health Service in war for inclusion in current emergency planning guidance to local authorities.

Mr. John Patten

Revised guidance on civil defence planning was issued by the Department of Health and Social Security to the National Health Service in July 1988. The guidance was also circulated to all local authorities in England and Wales. The substance of the guidance will be incorporated shortly in the emergency planning guidance to local authorities.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 7 December 1988,Official Report, column 205, if he will give details of the amounts of capital expenditure by the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation since 10 July 1987; and if he will give details of the purposes to which such expenditure was put; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

Capital expenditure by the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation since 10 July 1987, when my right hon. Friend announced a review of warning and monitoring arrangements, has been limited to items essential to the maintenance of the organisation's effectiveness and readiness for operation. The carrier warning system was completed with expenditure of £2.1 million, automatic telephone exchanges were installed in operational controls at a cost of £1.75 million, and building projects amounted to £0.43 million.