§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the co-ordination between organisations in response to any terrorist attack. [73849]
§ Mr. BlunkettSince the attacks of 11 September, the Government has conducted a wide ranging review of the United Kingdom counter terrorist procedures and infrastructure, including physical and legislative measures to disrupt, deter and prevent terrorist activity. The Civil Contingencies Committee, which I chair, has led the review working systematically through all government departments, the emergency services, local authorities and the Devolved Administrations. In this way we are in a position to get advice on issues that require central leadership or facilitation. The arrangements are revised and tested through exercises to encourage continual improvement of our response arrangements.
The Government's progress report "The United Kingdom and the Campaign against International Terrorism" published on 9 September, and placed in the Library, provides a summary of action taken to strengthen counter-terrorism measures within the United Kingdom.
An external assessment by the House of Commons Defence Committee, detailed in their sixth report of session 2001–02 "Defence and Security in the United Kingdom", made further recommendations to which the Government are responding and which will help guide further work.
To further enhance the capacity at the centre of Government to co-ordinate security, intelligence and consequence management matters and deal with risks and major emergencies should they arise, Sir David Omand KCB was appointed as Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office in June this year.
Further information on the preparedness of the United Kingdom to respond to a major terrorist attack can be found on the website maintained by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) at: http://www.ukresilience.infor/home.htm.