§ 19. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities exist in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the pooling of information regarding the civil defence measures of the member countries; and to what extent he has studied the evacuation plans and civil defence plans of the United States of America with a view to adopting them in this country.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe N.A.T.O. organisation includes a civil defence committee served by a full-time international staff, through which a full and regular exchange of civil defence information between member countries takes place. Through this organisation and through personal contacts and visits between those responsible for civil defence in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, information is available on the United States' plans; and account is taken, in the formulation of United Kingdom policy, of such plans in so far as they are applicable to the conditions in this country.
§ Mr. HughesCan the Home Secretary tell us whether the Government still adhere to their plan of evacuating 12 million people, and whether he thinks any of them can be safely sent into East Anglia? Will he consult the United States of America about taking a number of these people?
§ Mr. ButlerThe answer to the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's observations is, "No, Sir." The evacuation plans of the Government form a separate Question which, no doubt, he will wish to put upon the Paper.