Written Answers
Civil Defence: Guidance Publications
asked Her Majesty's Government:What further guidance is being provided to help local authorities carry out their functions under the 1983 Civil Defence Regulations.
We have now issued the new consolidated Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities. This updates, expands and replaces emergency services (ES) circulars issued by the Home Office to local authorities before 1985 (similar revised and updated guidance has been issued to the police and fire services). This guidance is supplemented by a technical handbook, Communal Shelters, designed to assist local authorities in identifying buildings and other structures suitable for use as civil defence shelters for the public. The report of the Home Office Working Party on Standardisation of Training of Civil Defence Volunteers has also been sent to local authorities for their guidance.My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has issued equivalent emergency planning guidance to Scottish authorities.We have also published a revised edition of the information booklet
UKWMO, describing the workings of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation; and the report of the Home Office Working Party on the Scientific Basis for the Development of Guidance and Operational Procedure for Living Under Fallout Conditions.
My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has today published Civil Defence and the Farmer and my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for Health and Social Security and Scotland are seeking comments from health authorities and health hoards and other interests on a draft document on civil defence planning in the health service.
Copies of all these publications have been placed in the Library.
Overseas Students: Scholarships
asked Her Majesty's Government:What new proposals they have to help more overseas students from developing countries to study in Britain.
My honourable friend the Minister of State for Overseas Development proposes to set up a new scheme called the Overseas Development Administration Shared Scholarship Scheme (ODASSS). Up to 450 scholarships over five years will be available (up to 50 in the first year and up to 100 a year thereafter). It will be jointly funded by the Overseas Development Administration and by those universities and polytechnics which wish to participate. Awards will be open to students from developing Commonwealth countries.The first awards will be in academic year 1986–87 and we shall seek the appropriate financial provision in due course. The awards will be for those of excellent academic calibre who do not qualify for assistance under existing Government support schemes and who are unable to finance the cost themselves.The scheme has been drawn up after informal discussions with organisations and individuals concerned with overseas students and higher education in Britain. The Overseas Development Administration will be having further detailed discussions with these organisations before the scheme comes into operation.