HC Deb 27 March 1963 vol 674 cc1315-6
41. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give details of the towns and targets calculated to have been destroyed and the casualties which were estimated as possible in Britain from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation exercise Fallex of September, 1962.

Mr. Thorneycroft

No, Sir. This information is confidential to N.A.T.O.

Mr. Allaun

Is it not true that between 10 million and 15 million people were calculated as having been killed in this exercise?

An Hon. Member

Who said so?

Mr. Allaun

It was reported by Der Spiegel and other newspapers. Is it not the case that the whole exercise was called to an early halt because of the complete chaos which had resulted, which was bringing all military activity to an end?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I am here concerned not with anybody else's calculations but with confidential information on a major exercise.