§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on establishing(a) a local emergency and (b) civil defence services to deal with a chemical or biological attack. [16690]
§ Mr. DenhamThere have been a small number of representations received from individual members of the public suggesting the establishment of civil defence services to respond to a variety of local or national threats, including chemical or biological (CB) attack.
I am not aware of any representations from civil protection professionals or organisations, either directly in response to the events of 11 September or as part of the Emergency Planning Review following the publication of the consultation document on 23 August, which have called for the establishment of civil defence services. There are comprehensive and well-developed inter-agency arrangements for dealing with emergencies in the United Kingdom whatever their cause. It has long been accepted by civil protection professionals, including the emergency services, that disaster response would not be helped by the creation of anything in the nature of a national squad and that prime responsibility for handling disasters should be at the local level where the resources and expertise are found.
An analysis of all the responses to the Emergency Planning Review will be made to Ministers and a report on the outcomes will be made to the Central Local Partnership.
There have been requests from local authorities, both directly and through the Local Government Association and the Emergency Planning Society for specific guidance about CB and other novel threats. In mid-October, guidance 'Response to the Deliberate Release of Chemicals and Biological Agents' was issued to local authorities. Separate specific guidance about anthrax was issued to general practitioners and health authorities, also in October.