HC Deb 11 November 1991 vol 198 cc381-2W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what training facilities will be available to local authorities taking on the responsibilities of the Royal Observer Corps; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what arrangements have been made to ensure the maximum use of existing expertise and equipment during the transfer of Royal Observer Corps duties to local authorities; how many volunteers will be sought; which authorities have already developed parallel arrangements and what those arrangements are; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what plans have been made for the transfer of Royal Observer Corps duties to local authorities; by what date the transfer is expected to be complete; who will undertake these duties in the interim period; and if he will make a statement;

(4) if additional finances will be made available to local authorities in order to carry out the role of the Royal Observer Corps; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Following the statement on the Government's emergency planning review made on 10 July 1991 by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, columns 393–96, preliminary discussions have been held with local authorities in Scotland on what new monitoring arrangements may be appropriate following the standing down of the Royal Observer Corps and what role the former ROC volunteers might have in these new arrangements. While no conclusions have yet been reached on these matters, the aim will be to make as much use of ROC resources as possible.

Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the future plans for Royal Observer Corps centres at Raigmore, Inverness, and the RIMNET system on Tiree.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Home Office has responsibility for the Royal Observer Corps facility at Raigmore. Officials of my Department are considering with their opposite numbers in the Home Office whether an alternative civil defence use for the centre might be found.

The radioactive incident monitoring network system on Tiree is one of 16 sites throughout Scotland established under the national response plan to cater for the response to nuclear incidents occurring overseas. There are no plans to discontinue the use of the site on Tiree and it will continue to be part of the network.