Road Network: Emergency and Civil Protection Arrangements

HL Deb 09 July 2003 vol 651 cc39-40WA

Lord Jopling

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to clear roads in and around major cities from motor vehicles disabled as a consequence of a nuclear explosion. [HL3125]

The Lord President of the Council (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

Responsibility for maintaining, operating and improving local roads lies with local authorities. Local authorities, supported by the police and other emergency services, have tried and tested plans in place to maintain the local road network in a wide range of emergency situations as part of wider civil protection work. Similar arrangements apply for any motorway or trunk road. That said, the noble Lord is no doubt aware that motor vehicles would only be disabled in the way he suggests as the result of nuclear attack, and we currently believe that the likelihood of such an attack being launched against the UK is very low.