§ 30. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of shelters in Scotland now available for protection against fall-out.
§ Mr. MaclayNo shelters have been built at public expense specifically to give protection against fall-out, but about 14,000 last war shelters still exist in Scotland, which would give some degree of protection.
§ Mr. RankinThat is a terrible answer. The right hon. Gentleman cannot have seen the shelters he is talking about. They are in such a state in my division—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is the time for questions, not for speeches.
§ Mr. RankinI apologise, Mr. Speaker. The right hon. Gentleman's Answer provoked me. Is the Secretary of State aware that the Minister of Defence, who was recently with us, depends on the massive deterrent to make shelters unnecessary? Did not he hear the Minister declare that the massive deterrent is something which he is now thinking about again? Is the right hon. Gentleman telling us that the Government's policy is to offer no protection whatever to the people of Scotland against the dangers of fall-out of which we have been hearing so much?
§ Mr. MaclayThe hon. Member is trying to drag me into debate on the principles of defence policy. If he studies my Answer carefully, he will find that it answers the Question on the Order Paper.