HC Deb 22 April 1991 vol 189 cc294-5W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost of running the Emergency Planning college in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. John Patten

Expenditure on the Emergency Planning college was not separately identified in the Appropriation Accounts prior to 1984 and details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For 1984–85 onwards the information requested is as follows:

£
1984–85 1,058,000
1985–86 1,159,000
1986–87 1,516,000
1987–88 1,368,000
1988–89 1,468,000
1989–90 1,685,000
1990–911 1,517,000
1 Estimated.

In addition, £226,000 and £670,000 were spent in 1989–90 and 1990–91 respectively on various capital projects in relation to the college buildings.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when was the last independent evaluation of the Emergency Planning college; and when the next such inquiry will take place.

Mr. John Patten

A study was carried out by management consultants between March 1990 and January this year into the ways in which the Emergency Planning college might best discharge its wider remit to address questions of peacetime emergency planning, irrespective of any wartime connections, which was announced by the then Home Secretary in June 1989. There are no plans at present for any further external reviews.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom the management of the Emergency Planning college is accountable.

Mr. John Patten

The Emergency Planning college is part of my right hon. Friend's fire and emergency planning department and, as such is accountable through the normal management structure to him.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase has taken place in the staff of the Emergency Planning college since the expansion of its title and role.

Mr. John Patten

Since June 1989 when the Emergency Planning college's change of name and expansion of its role were announced an increase in staff amounting to 2.5 additional posts has been approved. These have not yet been filled. In addition, two posts on the college's original complement have been regraded at a higher level.