Mr. Bill Smith:

We have been over-subscribed to some extent in recent years. We also have a capacity problem locally in terms of accommodation and training facilities. Centralised training is provided at the Civil Defence training unit, with people who qualify locally being trained nationally by us. There is a capacity limitation at both ends of the equation.

Emergency planning was referred to earlier. The mix of skills that might be required in a coastal county would differ from those required in an inland county in which there may be lakes, rivers and so on. The emergency planning arrangements in each local authority would differ slightly in terms of the mix of skills required by a Civil Defence officer to meet the local emergency planning arrangements which feed into local authority emergency plan. This mix of skills requires a certain cadre of strength. It is not just about numbers. It is more about a mix of skills and the capacity of the officer to train recruits who are then sent on to us for training at national level. There are, unfortunately, limitations on capacity.