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Home Office

Answer

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what common standards are set across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in order to ensure good and proper contingency provision; and what arrangements exist for their inspection. [86598] Mr. Blunkett: I have been asked to reply. Consistency between the guidance documents is ensured by liaison between the Cabinet Office and the devolved Administrations, who work together to deliver co-ordinated contingency planning across the United Kingdom. The core guidance documents for contingency planning arrangements for England and Wales are: "Dealing With Disaster" (3rd Edition) and "Standards for Civil Protection in England and Wales" produced by the Home Office in October 1999. A revised version of "Dealing With Disaster" is scheduled for publication in the first half of 2003. The arrangements are under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee on Civil Contingencies and Resilience which I chair. Emergency planning in Scotland is a devolved responsibility. In Scotland and Northern Ireland the guidance reflects the principles and methodology of the above documents but is adapted to take account of local circumstances. The main guidance document in Scotland is: "Dealing With Disaster Together" produced by the Scottish Executive Justice Department. In Northern Ireland, the key documents are: "A Guide to Emergency Planning in Northern Ireland", which is currently under review, and "Northern Ireland Standards in Civil Protection". Auditing is carried out by a range of bodies. For example, the emergency services are monitored by service inspectorates, and the National Audit Office monitors the work of central Government Departments.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

86598; 397 c598-9W;397 c596-7W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Civil defence Disasters Emergencies Planning Departmental coordination

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk