§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance the Government will offer to Cornwall in dealing with problems arising from the total eclipse of the sun on 11 August 1999. [65033]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Home Office is responsible for emergency planning in England and Wales and makes an annual grant to county level local authorities to make plans for emergencies. This grant complements the local authority's own commitment.
85WUnder Integrated Emergency Management arrangements, local emergency planners develop non-specific and flexible plans designed to produce a multi-agency response to the effects of an incident irrespective of the cause. This approach is ideal for an incident such as the Eclipse which is not an unforeseen emergency, but is an event for which there has been sufficient time for local services to plan. There are arrangements to seek mutual aid, if required, from services in other areas and ultimately from the military.
My officials have been involved in discussions with those responsible for planning the response to the Eclipse, including the Chief Executive of Cornwall County Council and the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and will continue to watch developments closely offering assistance where possible.