§ 15. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total sum of money spent on civil defence since the date when Her Majesty's Government first announced their intention of retaliating with nuclear weapons against any form of major aggression; and what guidance he has given to local authorities about the way in which this money should be spent.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe estimated net defence expenditure by Civil Departments is shown in Annex III to the Annual Defence Statistics. As regards local authorities, their primary civil defence function has been the training and organisation of the civil defence services for which they are responsible, and they have been given full guidance to assist them in carrying out this most important duty.
§ Mr. SwinglerEveryone would agree that reasonable preparations should be made. Would the Home Secretary agree that we must ensure that people should not be grossly misled about the nature of the dangers that beset them or the capacity to prepare defence measures against nuclear weapons? Will he give an assurance that no money will be spent on ridiculous exercises presuming that 10 megaton bombs are falling on the country and devastating civilised life?
§ Mr. ButlerOn this very difficult question of civil defence, the most cheering feature is the responsible attitude of local authorities, and of those who serve the local authorities, which we have found all over the country. I should not like to say anything that did not give them encouragement, and I certainly would not wish to do anything which did not show how much we appreciate what they are doing.