HC Deb 18 June 1953 vol 516 cc1175-6
34. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has obtained from Sweden about the civil defence arrangements and provision for deep shelters for the civil population of that country in the event of atomic bombs, and to what extent he proposes to introduce similar measures here.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir David Maxwell Fyfe)

I have obtained from Sweden a considerable amount of information about the civil defence arrangements, including the provision of deep shelters for the civil population. Conditions in this country are not generally so favourable for the construction of deep shelter as they are in Sweden, but the possibility of providing such shelter has not been overlooked in the planning which is now proceeding.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Home Secretary aware that Stockholm has arrangements for building deep shelters for 20,000 people; and would he tell us whether his Department have come to any conclusion at all about deep shelters?

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

Facilities for studying the Swedish plans have recently been afforded by the Swedish authorities, and they are being studied in my Department.