asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to ensure that communities prepare and keep updated their emergency plans; and if he will consider what incentives he can offer.
Responsibility for making, reviewing and revising civil defence plans at community and other levels rests with county councils, assisted by district councils, and we have asked councils to complete their plans by the end of the year. The civil defence adviser to the Home Office has almost completed a programme of visits to all county councils in England and Wales to discuss the present state of civil defence planning and to offer advice.Local authorities have already been informed that the Home Office is prepared to consider additional grant aid towards the cost of staff needed to prepare and revise their plans. In addition, central training is made available to community advisers and a package of standardised training material is in preparation for local use.