10:05am UK, Wednesday July 24, 2002

Britain's emergency services lack the capabilities and resources to cope with a massive terrorist attack on the scale of the September 11 atrocities, MPs have warned.

In a scathing report, the Commons Defence Committee is highly critical of the Government's response to international terrorism.

sp armed policeman security

The report highlights a series of "real deficiencies" in the ability of the civil authorities to deal with a major terrorist incident.

Fire and ambulance crews lack the equipment and training to cope with a chemical, biological or nuclear attack, there is no role for the regular Armed Forces, while crucial radio communications equipment contains "fundamental vulnerabilities".

Disaster

The report sharply criticises ministers for failing to mount a "proper and comprehensive" review of disaster management procedures and the "slow progress" in producing a promised civil contingencies bill.

It says a "strong central authority" was needed to lay down the law in Whitehall and co-ordinate the work of the various Government departments involved in emergency planning.

The committee chairman, Labour MP Bruce George, said: "We do believe that there has been a lack of grip and direction on the part of central government.

"We are concerned that central government has not responded to the scale of the complexity of the challenge posed by international terrorism."

The report also highlights the urgent need to properly train and equip fire and ambulance crews to deal with a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident.

Detect weapons

The report goes on to complain that systems to detect weapons of mass destruction smuggled in via shipping containers are woefully inadequate and calls for measures to be put in place promptly.

Downing Street insists that steps have been taken to improve security and emergency planning, but conceded that more needed to be done.

"We have done a lot, we would argue. But equally there is more to be done," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

"We have tightened security in relation to aviation, civil nuclear sites and taken steps to cut off terrorist access to funds.

"On the whole we believe that the crisis machinery works well, but it is always open to improvement and clearly we will look carefully at this report."