. SymsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met(a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) the Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and (c) the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee to discuss the UK's preparedness to cope with a terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement. [125031]
592W
§ Mr. BlunkettThe Government keeps all aspects of the security of the UK under constant review and I am in regular contact with various elements of the intelligence community to assess the terrorist threat to the UK.
The threat from terrorist attack remains real as it has done for some time. However the intelligence and law enforcement agencies of the UK are constantly reviewing procedures to be taken in the event of a terrorist attack and the Government has provided significant funding to continue the vital improvements they have been made in this area since the tragic events of September 11th.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training and instructions have been issued to(a) ambulance crews, (b) paramedics, (c) GPs, (d) accident and emergency staff, (e) fire services and (f) police forces about the identification of radioisotopes in the event of the release of a radiological bomb; and if he will make a statement. [125155]
§ Mr. BlunkettWith funding of £2.7 million from the Department of Health, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is currently delivering a wide ranging programme of training on CBRN which encompasses responding to the release of radioisotopes from a radiological devise.
The radiological component is being delivered in conjunction with the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) which has significant experience of such training. NRPB are the body responsible for providing formal advice to Government on radiological protection issues and provided a significant input to the guidance to the NHS.
The national health service (NHS) has long-standing plans for responding to incidents involving radioactivity and these have been well exercised. The NHS has practical experience of responding to accidental releases of radioactive material. This experience provides a basic platform for dealing with radiological contamination, however caused. Advice to NHS personnel on responding to incidents, such as radioactivity released from radiological bombs, is given in a detailed annex "Practical guidance on planning for incidents involving radioactivity" (www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/chp9/rad.htm) within the document "Planning for Major Incidents: the NHS Guidance" (1998). This guidance contains advice on the provision of facilities and equipment for monitoring for radioactivity for people who might have been contaminated. The document "Deliberate Release of Biological and Chemical Guidance" (2000) also gives generic advice on dealing with a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) incident (www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/cbr/intro.htm).
On the Fire Service, the Fire Service has always had procedures and training to deal with radiation incidents. All firefighters receive training as part of their normal development. Enhanced by officers who attend the Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection course at the Fire Service College, and are mobilised to any radiation incident.
On police force training and instructions, to date a total of approximately 3,800 police officers have been trained with 2,862 of these having been trained at the 593W Police National CBRN Centre since August 2002. All of the police officers trained by the PNCBRNC (Police National CBRN Centre) have received training regarding a possible radiological incident.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what equipment has been issued to(a) ambulance crews, (b) paramedics, (c) GPs, (d) accident and emergency staff, (e) fire services and (f) police forces for the identification of radioisotopes in the event of the release of a radiological bomb; and if he will make a statement. [125156]
§ Mr. BlunkettInitial detection of any chemical or radiological hazard at the scene of an incident normally falls to the fire service—although the police may also contribute and this is well understood amongst the emergency services. In conjunction with the police, the fire service will also decide the extent of the cordon required and provide advice to ambulance and other NHS staff attending. Expert advice is also quickly available from the Health Protection Agency and other agencies.
Fire and Rescue services have detection (survey meters) and monitoring (Dosimeter) equipment to enable them to both detect a source and monitor the doses received by firefighters.
It is not possible to give details publicly of police equipment which is used solely to respond to a CBRN terrorist incident for security reasons.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the optimum treatment time for radio isotope contamination in the event of a radiological bomb. [125157]
§ Mr. BlunkettIn the event of radioactive contamination following a radiological bomb the immediate danger is still from any injuries sustained. Therefore, the basic principle is that treatment of serious or life-threatening injuries must take priority over radiation monitoring or decontamination.
Health risks from radioactive contamination are less immediate and there is therefore time to assess the level of contamination before decontamination and any further treatment.