HC Deb 03 March 1977 vol 927 cc586-8
Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what if the number and annual cost of staff employed by his Department and by local authorities in connection with his Department on home defence; what increases he proposes in staff and cost; and if he will make a statement on recent proposals for dealing with home defence.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dr. Shirley Summer-skill)

Three hundred and eighty-five civil servants were employed on 31st March 1976 by the Home Office on civil defence and related matters at an annual cost of about £1.2 million, and we have no proposals for an increase. We have no information about the number and salaries of local authority employees, and we know of no recent proposals about home defence which would warrant a statement.

Mr. Allaun

Would it not be more honest to tell people that there is no effective defence against hydrogen bombs instead of sending out, as the Home Office did recently, a spate of circulars to certain county council officials? Second, would my hon. Friend like to comment on the more secret and sinister aspects of civil defence refered to in today's issue of Time Out?

Dr. Summerskill

There have been no new proposals, and only one circular has recently been issued updating the contingency plans for the event of a nuclear attack. Some of the matters which have given rise to Press comment have been a feature of Government plans for 25 years, and others for the past five or 10 years.

Mr. Banks

Is it not the case that many countries are spending money on building underground nuclear fall-out shelters? Is it not high time that the Government grasped this nettle and formulated a policy to ensure that proper shelters are available to house people from nuclear fall-out rather than dispersing them to their homes to die in misery?

Dr. Summerskill

No. The Government have carefully considered this proposition and they do not advise the policy which the hon. Gentleman suggests.

Mr. Woodall

Although there is no acknowledged or accepted defence against nuclear fall-out, has the Department any advice to offer authorities regarding defence from germ warfare?

Dr. Summerskill

The circular which has been issued embraces catastrophes and emergencies, both civil and nuclear.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Is the Minister aware that the Russians do not regard money spent on civil defence as wasted and that their contribution is quite astronomical, being about four times that of the United States? Is she further aware that in NATO terms our allocation to civil defence is really one of the feeblest? Will she take note of the last report of the committee of NATO on civil defence which recommended that there should be an allocation from the defence budget itself?

Dr. Summerskill

The Home Office is in continuous consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence about the matters which the hon. Gentleman has raised, and our policy is decided according to co-operation between the two Departments.