Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have ascertained what proportion of local authorities from cities down to parish councils have agreed Disaster Emergency Plans; and if so, what is that proportion.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 requires local authorities, as category one responders, to take action in relation to emergencies. They are required to assess the risks to their local area, make plans to prevent an emergency occurring or to reduce, control or mitigate its effects. No central record is kept of the range of plans held by local authorities. The Department for Communities and Local Government provides help and support to local resilience fora, made up of the category one and two responders in a police area, where necessary, in developing their plans.