HC Deb 07 February 1963 vol 671 cc646-7
13. Miss Vickers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a householders' guide concerning action to be taken in the event of a nuclear attack has been prepared; and when it will be distributed.

Mr. Brooke

Copies of a handbook summarising the advice to be given to householders, if this should at any time become necessary, were made available on 15th January to local authorities for issue as a training publication to members of the civil defence, police and fire services. There is no present action which householders are being asked to take. The handbook will be kept up to date. Like other civil defence training publications, it is on sale to the public.

Miss Vickers

Does not my right hon. Friend think it desirable to allow householders to have this advice? In an Adjournment debate on the subject, I pointed out that Canada and other Commonwealth countries do this and consider it very helpful and necessary to get people prepared in case an emergency occurs.

Mr. Brooke

Any householder can have a copy—the price is only 9d.—but I do not think this is the time for householders to start white-washing their windows and doing the other things they might have to do in a real emergency.

Mr. Lubbock

Does the Home Secretary consider that training should be given to the public in bricking up windows and filling book-cases with earth during the space of four minutes, as is recommended in the booklet?

Mr. Brooke

No, Sir.