HC Deb 20 February 1958 vol 582 cc1393-4
46. Mr. Brockway

asked the Prime Minister what action is now being taken to train decontamination teams to protect civilians, in view of the recent statement of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Defence Department of the United States of America that unfissioned nuclear material dangerous to life might be scattered as dust by the crash of aircraft carrying atomic or hydrogen bombs; what arrangements are being made to give immediate warning to the public in the affected area; and if he is satisfied that such action can be effective in removing danger to health and life.

48. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the fresh evidence in the hands of the United States Government of the danger of unfissioned nuclear materials being released if an aircraft carrying nuclear weapons crashes; and whether he will now arrange for civil defence and Royal Air Force first aid and rescue parties to receive training similar to that given to the special United States decontamination teams referred to in the recent United States Defence Department statement.

The Prime Minister

The information given in the statement released by the United States Department of Defence on 14th February was already known to Her Majesty's Government when my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal made his statement in this House on 4th February.

I am placing a copy of the American statement in the Library of the House. Careful study of it will show that there is no disagreement between the United States and ourselves on the risks and hazards involved in the crash of an aircraft carrying a nuclear weapon.

On the specific points mentioned in the Questions, I would draw attention to the passage in my right hon. Friend's statement of 4th February in which he said that contamination of the ground, if any, could be dealt with in due course by special military teams. This is entirely consistent with the procedure envisaged in the American statement.

Mr. Brockway

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his absence the Lord Privy Seal stated that the danger was negligible, and that that previously was the view of the American Government, but that the Defence Department of the American Government has had to withdraw from that position and to establish decontamination schemes? In view of the impossibility of having decontamination schemes scattered about the country, will the Prime Minister at least hold up the carrying of these bombs in aircraft until the summit talks and the disarmament conference?

The Prime Minister

I think the hon. Member is confusing two points. I said before I left, and my right hon. Friend repeated, that there was no danger of a nuclear explosion. The American statement, if the hon. Member will read it, confirms that. That is quite a different question from the question which arises of a possible contamination, not by a nuclear explosion of which I said there is no danger—I believe the experts now put it at one chance in 3,000 million, and I think I was justified in saying "no danger"—but from the possible dispersion of a certain amount of material that would be dealt with in the way I have suggested.

Mr. de Freitas

If the Americans have found it necessary to have specially trained teams to deal with this matter, surely the very least the Prime Minister can say is that what we pressed for on many occasions shall now be brought about and that special training will be given to selected Civil Defence and Royal Air Force teams on the same lines in this country?

The Prime Minister

That is being done as regards the Royal Air Force.