§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to ensure that the emergency services are prepared to deal with a terrorist attack in the UK. [124412]
§ Mr. BlunkettThe UK has the necessary plans in place in the interests of national security and the protection of the public. The Government's preparations include a series of classified contingency plans for responding to a wide range of terrorist threats. These plans are regularly tested, reviewed and updated in the light of changing circumstances; this ensures that all agencies involved are prepared to respond to a terroristincident.
The response to any terrorist incident relies upon a co-ordinated approach and the Government draws upon the resource; and expertise of Government Departments, the security and intelligence agencies, the police, the military, the emergency services, local authorities and scientific and other specialist advice as necessary.
I set out further details of the steps we have taken in my written Ministerial Statements on 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 72WS, 20 March 2003, column 51WS, and 3 July 2003, Official Report, column 25WS.
My hon. Friend may also wish to refer to the generic guidance contained in the publication "Dealing with Disaster" which can be found on the UK Resilience website (www.ukresilience.info) and the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism).