HC Deb 29 January 1951 vol 483 c583

This defence programme is designed to deter aggression, and we have therefore placed the emphasis upon the strengthening of the active defences. There must be limits to the resources which can be applied to defence purposes in time of peace, and we do not propose any general acceleration of Civil Defence preparations. We shall, however, press on with Civil Defence planning; and we shall accelerate those Civil Defence measures which directly support the efficiency of the Armed Forces—in particular, communications, the control network and the warning system. In addition, we shall begin to build up stocks of some of the essential equipment required by the Civil Defence services, including the fire services and the hospitals and emergency medical services.

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