§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what communication his Department has had with civil defence officers in local government since 11 September 2001. [31242]
§ Mr. LeslieI have met local authority representatives to discuss civil defence matters on a number of occasions and will continue to do so.
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat has regular contact with local authority representatives and emergency planning officers, and they have met representatives of the Local Government Association and the Emergency Planning Society on 14 January to discuss a range of issues. In October the "Response to the Deliberate Release of Chemicals or Biological Agents—Guidance for Local Authorities" was issued. Local authority representatives are also directly involved in various working groups set up after 11 September.
§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the civil defence grants in(a) 199–7, (b) 199–8, (c) 199–9, (d) 199–000 and (e) 200–1; and if he will make a statement. [31243]
401W
§ Mr. LeslieThe civil defence grants for the years 1996–97 to 2000–01 are as follows:
£ million (a)1996–97 14.9 (b) 1997–98 14.4 (c) 1998–99 14 (d) 1999–2000 14 (e)2000–01 14
§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of funding needed to help local authorities prepare for and deal with terrorist activity in the last 12 months. [31240]
§ Mr. LeslieThe payment of civil defence grants to local authorities supports their planning of generic responses to all local disasters or crises, which includes their contingency planning for responses to terrorist activities. The level of funding is set in the light of all demands placed upon local authorities.