HC Deb 21 November 1957 vol 578 cc539-40
8. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of his reply to the hon. Member for Gorton on 31st October that there would be only five minutes' warning of an atomic attack but that the Government proposed to evacuate 40 to 45 per cent. of the population of the highly industrialised areas in advance of the outbreak of hostilities, on how much advance notice of the outbreak of nuclear hostilities the Government bases its plans for the evacuation of 12 million people.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The time required to carry out any scheme of evacuation which may be decided upon would vary from one area to another according to circumstances.

Mr. Zilliacus

Will it not take a matter of weeks, rather than days, to evacuate 12 million people? Is it not a fact that the most we can expect in the way of warning of the outbreak of hostilities is a period of hours, if not of minutes? Will not the Home Secretary address himself to this question in a spirit of realism? How does he expect to carry out this evacuation plan in advance of hostilities?

Mr. Butler

I think that we may, perhaps, get some idea of the climate of the situation rather longer ahead than the hon. Gentleman realises, but I should like to reassure the House that we are having discussions about this evacuation policy with the local authorities associations. These discussions are not yet complete. When they are complete, it would be better for me to make a further statement.

Mr. Younger

Can the Home Secretary tell us whether he is contemplating in the fairly near future making any general statement on Civil Defence? It is my impression that we have not had a general statement for some time, and as events seem to be moving very fast indeed, can the right hon. Gentleman say if we can hope for a comprehensive statement fairly soon?

Mr. Butler

I shall certainly pay attention to the right hon. Gentleman's request on this subject and regard it as a matter we can discuss.