asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his practice to advise the shipping and civil industries on the effects of electromagnetic pulse and ways of minimising them.

Responsibility for advice to the civil aviation industry on electromagnetic pulse rests with the Civil Aviation Authority, which has promulgated information in one of its publications. Information for ships masters is contained in an official publication already available to United Kingdom shipowners.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his reply. Will he confirm that the information given is based on the latest available Ministry of Defence information? Does he agree that the increasing reliance by the MOD on civilian resources, especially in shipping, and, to some extent, in civil aviation, makes an acceptable and effective communications system essential at all times?

The latest information provided for shipping is via the Ministry of Defence. My hon. Friend can he satisfied about that. I shall make inquiries in writing about the Civil Aviation Authority.