§ 42. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister in view of the Government's decision to install a ballistic missile early warning station and the reference in paragraph 49 of the Defence White Paper to the development of the civil defence warning and monitoring system, if he will instruct the Minister of Defence and the Secretary of State for the Home Department to prepare a joint report co-ordinating these two warning systems and relating them to the Government's civil defence policy for the evacuation of 12,000,000 people in case of war.
§ The Prime MinisterI am satisfied that on all these matters there is adequate consultation and co-ordination between my right hon. Friends.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs the Prime Minister aware that on 21st November, 1957, the Home Secretary replied to a Question from me and said that the Government's civil defence policy was based on anticipating long enough notice of the outbreak of hostilities to evacuate 12 million people? Does not that need relating to a rocket warning system of four minutes?
§ The Prime MinisterThese are large questions for me to deal with in question and answer. What I was asked was whether I would instruct the Minister of Defence and the Secretary of State to prepare a joint report. I do not think that would be very valuable. They already consult together and keep in touch with an ever-changing situation, which there must be in a matter so complicated as this. As for the motives which lie behind this Question, I think the whole House understands them.
§ 43. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied that adequate arrangements can be made for Ministerial consultations for the purpose of taking decisions in the event of radar warning of the approach of intercontinental missiles; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir". It would not be in the public interest to make any statement about these arrangements.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Prime Minister satisfied that in this four minutes he will be able to get in touch with the Leader of the House or with the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Will he not be virtually dictator and will not that be enough to give his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House another chill?
§ The Prime MinisterI always try to anticipate the hon. Member's supplementary questions, because I know he never puts down a Question with the purpose of getting an Answer, but only as a kind of peg on which to hang his supplementary question. That is his method. How far it is an abuse of our procedure I do not know, but it adds enormously to the gaiety of Parliament. All I can say is that this time I was not able to anticipate him, and I give him the advantage.