(1)In section 138 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (powers of principal councils with respect to emergencies or disasters) after subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
“(1A)If a principal council are of the opinion that it is appropriate to undertake contingency planning to deal with a possible emergency or disaster which, if it occurred,—
(a)would involve destruction of or danger to life or property, and
(b)would be likely to affect the whole or part of their area,
they may incur such expenditure as they consider necessary on that planning (whether relating to a specific kind of such possible emergency or disaster or generally in relation to possible emergencies or disasters falling within paragraphs (a) and (b) above).”
(2)In subsection (3) of that section—
(a)for the words from the beginning to “authorise” there shall be substituted “Nothing in this section authorises”; and
(b)for the words “the power conferred by that subsection is” there shall be substituted “the powers conferred by subsections (1) and (1A) above are”.
(3)At the end of the section there shall be added the following subsections—
“(5)With the consent of the Secretary of State, a metropolitan county fire and civil defence authority and the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority may incur expenditure in co-ordinating planning by principal councils in connection with their functions under subsection (1) above.
(6)In this section “contingency planning” means the making, keeping under review and revising of plans and the carrying out of training associated with the plans.”