This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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UK Civil Contingenices Bill
07/01/2004
A new Bill designed to strengthen the UK's response to
emergency situations has been introduced in the House of
Commons by the UK government with Scottish Ministers
agreeing that it will include provisions for Scotland.
The Civil Contingencies Bill will introduce statutory
duties for organisations that respond to emergencies to
plan for emergencies and to co-operate in this
planning.
Scotland already has arrangements for preparing for
emergencies - planning is co-ordinated at a local level
between the emergency services, local authorities and other
responder organisations.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"As an Executive we stand for safer, stronger
communities. That aim drives our work to improve the
everyday lives of our citizens. However, it must also
extend to planning for the extraordinary and unlikely. I am
committed to ensuring that the people of Scotland can rely
on robust arrangements for civil protection that are
consistent across the whole of the UK.
"The Executive consulted with the stakeholders in our
emergency services and in local authorities in 2003 on how
civil protection arrangements may be enhanced. This process
indicated that there was value in providing a single
statutory framework for civil protection in the UK. This
would ensure that our capabilities to plan for emergencies
are consistent across the country. We believe that is what
today's Bill will bring."
The Executive's response to the consultation on civil
protection arrangements will be published shortly.
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat, which is a part of
the Cabinet Office has prepared the Civil Contingencies
Bill. Information on the CCS and the background to the Bill
can be accessed through the UK resilience website
www.ukresilience.info.