HC Deb 26 February 1959 vol 600 c1271
18. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to bring up to date the warning system, outlined in pamphlet No. 2 of Volume 1 of the Civil Defence Manual published in 1956, providing for a fall-out warning system supplementary to an attack warning system, in order to relate both to rocket developments.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

The warning system is being kept abreast of modern developments.

Mr. Warbey

In view of the fact that the warning of a nuclear rocket attack would be at the maximum six minutes and probably less, surely it is nonsense to continue talking about attempting to protect the majority of the civil population of this country when in fact they would be smothered in a deadly blanket of radioactive fall-out within a few minutes of the attack?

Captain Pilkington

Is not the defeatist attitude of some hon. Members of the party opposite very deplorable?

Mr. Silverman

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. When the hon. and gallant Gentleman intervened with his frivolity the hon. Lady was about to answer my hon. Friend's supplementary question. Can she now be allowed to answer it?

Mr. Speaker

I did not know that she was. I was looking for the hon. Lady to rise, but I did not see her rise.

Mr. Warbey

As the hon. Lady is unable to answer my previous Question, will she now answer Question No. 19?

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