HC Deb 13 December 1979 vol 975 c1520
13. Sir Nigel Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconstitute the Civil Defence Corps.

Mr. Raison

We have no such intention at present.

Sir N. Fisher

Does my hon. Friend agree that, if reconstituted, the corps could help in the event of a non-nuclear war, and could also help to maintain the necessities of life, such as food, water and fuel, in the event of disruptive industrial action?

Mr. Raison

It is important not to confuse the organised training and use of volunteers and civil defence for war emergencies with contingency planning to protect the public against the effects of strikes. Those are different matters.