§ 13. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of new scientific information and the confusion in the public mind as to the probable effects of nuclear weapons and their aftermath, Her Majesty's Government will make a new investigation into the biological and environmental effects of a nuclear attack on Great Britain.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerNo, Sir. Arrangements already exist to keep our scientific knowledge on these matters up to date.
§ Mr. PavittIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the United States Government have seen fit to hold a public inquiry and have published the findings in a report under the name of the chairman, Mr. Holifield, and is it not more consistent with British democracy that the Government should do for our people what the American Government do for theirs?
§ Mr. ButlerI am aware of the report, of which we have taken full advantage, and also the particular Congressional Sub-Committee hearing in 1959, but we do not find in the information anything that is not available to us already. I will certainly bear in mind the need for bringing our information up to date all the time, and will, to that extent, pay attention to the hon. Gentleman's question.
§ 14. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the degree of radioactivity in London after the dropping of a 20-megaton nuclear bomb near the centre; and to what extent civil defence organisations are equipped to deal with such an emergency.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe effects of such a bomb would depend on a number of factors, such as the height at which it was burst, and the prevailing wind. But there would be a large area of total destruction, and radioactivity would affect most of the remaining part of London. Nothing could prevent enormous casualties; but civil defence would help numbers of people to survive who would otherwise die.
§ Mr. PavittIs the Home Secretary aware that a group of scientists from 1740 the universities has said that it would be at least 250 years before the area would be free from radioactivity and able again to be occupied? In those circumstances, are the arrangements for our civil defence adequate?
§ Mr. ButlerAs has been observed in the Defence White Paper this year, an advance is being made in our civil defence preparations. It might not be a very big one, but it is definitely being made, and it will, I hope, also encourage local authorities such as London, who have done so much to help us and whom I hope to be able to help in my turn. I hope that we shall do our very best to warn people of 'the dangers, and to take all the steps we humanly can to deal with them ahead.