§ 29. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number and the functions of scientific intelligence officers in the Civil Defence Corps.
§ Mr. RentonThe number of scientific intelligence officers trained and under training in the Civil Defence Corps in England, Scotland and Wales is 1,519. Their primary function in civil defence operations would be to act as scientific advisers to the Civil Defence controllers. They would be responsible for the task of analysing and interpreting scientific and technical information, especially about radioactive fall-out.
§ Mr. RankinIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the gap between the knowledge of these officers, as contained in the volume I got from the Library, and the knowledge of the general public in regard to these matters is absolutely incredible? Does that gap exist because his office realises that no defence of the civil population is possible against the nuclear deterrent? If his office believes it to be possible, and in view of the fact that it is not doing so, will he consider creating a 1474 Ministry of Civil Defence to see that the job is done properly?
§ Mr. RentonThe hon. Member's supplementary question raises a very wide issue indeed. In the first place, I deny any suggestion that there is a lack of desire and intention to keep the public fully informed on this matter. The Civil Defence organisations throughout the country, to their very great credit, are doing their best to tell the public of the very large amount which can be done by way of protection against fall-out. As to the scientific intelligence officers and the part they play, I wish to pay a tribute to the work done by these volunteers, all of whom are drawn from those who have really good scientific qualifications. The part which they are playing compares favourably with the part played by anyone else in public life.