§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which department of Government have responsibility for keeping the UK State of Emergency regulations under review; when the last review was made; if he will undertake his own departmental review of the regulations; and if this matter has been included in the general review of international obligations announced on 3 July 1997. [65999]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Home Office has overall responsibility for any emergency regulations that might be made under the powers contained in the Emergency Powers Act 1920. However, as the Act covers a wide range of subjects, a number of other Departments might also be involved if regulations were needed.
A review of the potential requirements was carried out in 1995. A fresh review involving departments generally, which includes considering Millennium related issues, is in progress. Until a situation requiring the use of emergency powers arose, any link with international obligations would be hypothetical.