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Civil Defence

Volume 75: debated on Monday 11 March 1985

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money is spent per annum on civil defence in each member country of the EEC, including the United Kingdom; and what are the respective figures for (a) 10, (b) 20 and (c) 30 years ago.

The total estimated expenditure in the United Kingdom for 1984–85 is £77 million. The other information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many volunteers each of the counties listed in the Official Report, on 6 February, column 575, have recruited; what tasks have been allocated to them; and what reimbursement has been agreed.

The number of civil defence volunteers by county is not recorded centrally. Guidance on the role of volunteers is in Home Office circular No. ES 2/1981 (a copy of which is in the Library of the House); the aim is the provision of humanitarian and support services within their communities. It is for local authorities to decide what specific tasks would be appropriate in their area, but the report of the working party on the standardisation of training of civil defence volunteers (a copy of which is also in the Library of the House) makes recommendations on suitable functions. The level of volunteers' expenses to be reimbursed is a matter for the discretion of each local authority, but specific grant at the rate of 100 per cent. is paid on expenses connected with training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications he has had from Forest Heath district council for a grant to improve its emergency centre.

Forest Heath district council applied in August 1982 for civil defence grant and payment was authorised in February 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to review formally the consolidated guidance on emergency planning.

Consultation on the draft of this guidance is almost complete. We have undertaken to review the guidance after it has been issued for a year, but we see this as part of a continuous process. Arrangements for regular discussion of the guidance with those principally concerned are in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a working party on evacuation is still in existence.

No such working party exists, but the Government keep their policy on evacuation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the sum of the grant given to a district council in south Norfolk to establish an emergency centre under the 1983 Civil Defence regulations.

Civil defence grant aid at the rate of 75 per cent. has been paid towards expenditure totalling £9,500 incurred by South Norfolk district council in establishing an emergency centre.