§ 1. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Air how many nuclear bomb-proof dug-outs have been provided for the Royal Observer Corps; and what is the total cost to date.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. W. J. Taylor)About seven hundred and fifty underground posts and seven protected group headquarters are now complete. The cost to date is about £1¾million.
§ Mr. LiptonWhile these arrangements will no doubt enable a few people to survive a nuclear attack and then observe what damage has been done, would it not be advisable to merge this organisation rather more closely into the civil defence organisation, because the rôle of the R.O.C. is being very considerably changed with the advent of nuclear missiles?
§ Mr. TaylorThe task of this organisation is to co-ordinate information from its posts and from other groups and pass it through the sector operation centre to the civil defence authorities and also to the Services and other organisations. The kind of co-ordination which the hon. Gentleman envisages and recommends is indeed provided for in the present organisation.
§ Mr. BenceCould the hon. Gentleman inform the House what provision is made for the personnel engaged in civil defence?
§ Mr. TaylorThe posts are designed to give the maximum protection to the personnel of this organisation who will be working there, but no shelter can be claimed to be nuclear bomb-proof. These shelters are designed to give a reasonable degree of protection.