§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to enhance the arrangements for the designation of Government Departments and the precise allocation of responsibilities in response to major peacetime disasters in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe designation of Government Departments to take the central Government lead in response to a major peacetime disaster is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office civil contingencies unit. The designations are kept under constant review, as are the responsibilities to be discharged by Departments. The Home Office publication "Dealing with Disaster" explains the role of the lead Government Department and which Departments have been pre-nominated for particular disasters. A copy is in the Library of both Houses.