HC Deb 04 May 1993 vol 224 cc68-9W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what arrangements he has made to issue draft new Civil Defence (Grant) Regulations for consultation; when the draft was circulated for consultation; to whom the draft was circulated for consultation; what was the date notified for the submission of comments on the proposals; what comments his Department has received on his draft proposals; if he will list those organisations and individuals that submitted comments; what plans he has to issue revised proposals; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to consult with any body or organisation specified in directions given to them by the designated Minister;

(3) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to consult with bodies other than local authorities in the making of emergency plans;

(4) what arrangements he has made to issue draft new Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations for consultation; when the draft was circulated for consultation; to whom the draft was circulated for consultation; what was the date notified for the submission of comments on the proposals; what comments his Department has received on the draft proposals; if he will list those organisations and individuals that submitted comments; what plans he has to issue revised proposals; and if he will make a statement;

(5) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to give local authorities the power to take preparatory steps to implement emergency plans without having received a request from the designated Minister;

(6) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to arrange for the training of persons other than local authority staff;

(7) if he will make it his policy in any forthcoming civil defence regulations to place a duty upon local authorities to plan for mitigating the effects of occurrences involving destruction of or danger to life or property other than those designated as emergencies or disasters;

(8) if he will ensure that any new civil defence regulations introduced in England and Wales are consistent with those proposed to be introduced in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Draft Civil Defence (Grant) (Amendment) Regulations and (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations were issued in England and Wales on 3 December 1992 for comments to be received by 22 January 1993. They were sent to the Association of County Councils, Association of Metropolitan Authorities, Association of London Authorities, London Boroughs Association, Association of District Councils, chief executives of county councils, London boroughs and metropolitan districts, the town clerk of the Corporation of London, clerks to the fire and civil defence authorities, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, county Emergency Planning Officers Society, Society of Industrial Emergency Services Officers, National Council for Civil Protection, Emergency Planning Association and i he civil protection co-ordination group.

Comments have been received, and considered from the local authority associations, some 30 chief executives, the other organisations and also from the Institute of Civil Defence and Disaster Studies, Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association, British Red Cross and National Voluntary Aids Society.

The draft Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations will be laid before Parliament for approval as soon as possible and will be made available for information to those who were consulted. Following the consultations, it is not proposed to proceed with the draft Civil Defence (Grant) (Amendment) Regulations.

I propose to include provision in the draft regulations requiring local authorities to comply with any directions which are given by the designated Minister in the exercise of their functions, including consultation; for relevant local authorities and, where appropriate, fire and civil defence authorities only to be consulted in the making of plans; for local authorities, where they think it appropriate, to take preparatory steps to implement plans without a request from the designated Minister; and for local authorities to arrange training of persons other than their own staff.

A duty requiring plans for mitigating the effects of occurrences involving destruction of or danger to life or property will not be included. Local authorities will however be encouraged to develop broadly based plans which will enable them to respond to all kinds of emergencies.

The principles of the draft regulations will be consistent with those for Scotland.

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