Draft UK Civil Contingencies Bill published

The UK government has published draft legislation, The Civil Contingencies Bill, which will replace current emergency planning legislation. The bill is open to public consultation and interested parties must submit comments and views by Thursday 11th September 2003.

The Civil Contingencies Bill aims to address areas such as terrorism, civil disorder and serious environmental disasters. Issues such as last year’s Foot and Mouth outbreak and the UK fuel protests would come under the auspices of the bill.

The bill aims to better coordinate and simplify the currently complex lines of command in the UK emergency planning sector. The role of local emergency planning departments will be strengthened and they will be given responsibility for providing information and education on the subjects of risk management, emergency planning and business continuity.

The above measures only apply to England and Wales.

Enhanced emergency powers will be given to the UK police force, including the Scottish police.

The full text of the Cabinet Office’s announcement:

Douglas Alexander, Minister for the Cabinet Office, today launched the draft
Civil Contingencies Bill. The draft Bill, with accompanying non-legislative measures, will deliver a single framework for civil protection in the UK. It will modernise the legislative tools available to government to deal with the most serious emergencies, providing greater flexibility, proportionality, deployability and robustness.

The framework will enhance existing regional resilience by delivering a new regional civil protection tier. A clear role for the regions in civil protection will ensure consistency of activity across and between the tiers, and set out clear expectations and responsibilities - from front line responders through the regions and to central government departments.

At the local level, a two-tier duty will be introduced for local responders to codify existing best practice. This will clearly identify local responder roles and responsibilities within the area of civil protection, ensuring consistency and enhancing performance and communication. These improvements will deliver practical benefits and enhance the local response capability.

The Bill will deliver robust performance management of civil protection activity at all levels to ensure operational effectiveness and financial efficiency.

Douglas Alexander, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:
“The Government is committed to ensuring the best possible civil contingency framework exists in the UK. The draft Bill represents a single statutory framework for civil protection for the UK. It sets out clear responsibilities from front line responders through the regions and to central government departments.”

For more information and to download a copy of the complete draft bill visit www.ukresilience.info/ccbill

•Date: 19th June 2003 • UK •Type: Article •Topic: Emergency planning
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