§ 21. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent, in view of the Government's recognition of the impossibility of defending the civil population and their policy of trying to defend only air and rocket bases against nuclear attack, his civil defence policy includes measures for disposing of the dead and mortally wounded, especially in the large towns, industrial centres, and areas contiguous to rocket and air bases; and what is the nature of these measures.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Government's policy as regards air defence was restated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence in reply to the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman) on 11th February. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health has developed plans, in consultation with the regional hospital boards, for dealing with casualties, as an extension of the peacetime hospital services, and these, together with other aspects of the Government's civil defence plans designed to mitigate the effects of nuclear attack, must take priority.
§ Mr. ZilliacusWhile appreciating, as the right hon. Gentleman said in reply to an earlier Question, that the purpose of civil defence is largely to allay the anxieties of the population, is it not the fact that the Government's policy is to resort to nuclear weapons against a major attack on any allied country by conventional arms without any attempt to defend the civil population against the consequences of that policy? Will not the Government make clear the measures they propose to take to burn, bury or otherwise dispose of the tens of millions whom they propose to immolate on the altar of their nuclear deterrent strategy?
§ Mr. ButlerUnder no circumstances can I accept the interpretation of Her Majesty's Government's policy as set out by the hon. Member.