HC Deb 26 November 1957 vol 578 c961
4. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why East Anglia, where there are numerous American air bases and atomic weapon dumps, has been designated as an evacuation area in case of war.

Mr. H. Brooke

The evacuation scheme is still under consideration.

Mr. Zilliacus

Is the Minister aware that great anxiety exists among local authorities in East Anglia and that a member of a local authority is my authority for that statement? Will he bear in mind either that these anxieties should be dissipated by making it clear that East Anglia is not designated as an evacuation area or that he should explain how it is that, since nuclear bases attract nuclear attack and since the Government have no policy for defending the population against nuclear attack, this area has been selected in the circumstances?

Mr. Brooke

I will try to take everything into account, but I do not think that I can give a clearer answer to the House than that which I gave—namely, that the evacuation scheme is still under consideration.