Civil Defence (Hansard, 18 December 1980)

§ 3. Mr. Kilfedder
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to warn people about the consequences of nuclear war.

§ 20. Mr. Allan Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by his 535 Department on publicity on civil defence since the Minister of State, the hon. and learned Member for Cleveland and Whitby (Mr. Brittan), took on responsibility for this matter; and what results there have been.

§ Mr. Brittan
Two official booklets—"Protect and Survive" and "Nuclear Weapons"—are already on sale. Two more—concerned with domestic nuclear shelters—will be put on sale next month. All these are self-financing ventures. In addition, I and officials of the Department have participated in the widespread coverage of civil defence on television and radio and in the press. The outcome has been a better informed public.

§ Mr. Kilfedder
As the Government, in effect, banned the television broadcast of the Open University lecture on nuclear warfare a few weeks ago, following the precedent that was established 15 years ago by the banning of the television programme "The War Game", surely the people of the country are totally unaware of the awful consequences of nuclear warfare. Will the Government do more than just publishing that silly booklet "Protect and Survive", whose suggestions about whitewashing windows and creating shelters out of tables and doors are totally inadequate for nuclear warfare? In fact, will the hon. and learned Gentleman make arrangements for a regular television broadcast?

§ Mr. Brittan
The Government have not banned any programme. The hon. Gentleman would do better service to the cause of civil defence if he accepted the fact that as far as it goes the precautions and measures suggested in "Protect and Survive"—simple as they are and, therefore, capable of ridicule—would, if actually implemented, save a large number of lives if there were a nuclear attack.

§ Mr. Cryer
When will the Minister publish the guide to suitable shelters? If those shelters really are any good, which everyone very much doubts, why does not the Department of Health and Social Security provide a special needs payment to build a shelter for those on social security, or is it just a case of only the rich surviving?

§ Mr. Brittan
The hon. Gentleman must make up his mind whether the shelters are useless and ought to be ignored or whether they are so valuable that everybody ought to have them. The answer to the factual part of his question is 22 January.

§ Mr. Robert Atkins
Will my hon. and learned Friend accept the congratulations of all Conservative Members on the recent appointment of a senior Service officer to look after and co-ordinate civil defence matters? Will he confirm that the Russians, who are arguably our greatest enemy, and the Swiss, who are no one's enemy, both have effective and powerful civil defence forces?

§ Mr. Brittan
Congratulations are always welcome, and never more so than at this time of the year. Sir Leslie Mayor will provide an extremely valuable service to the country in co-ordinating volunteer effort in this sphere and giving advice to the Government. His experience is immense, and we are glad to have secured his services. My hon. Friend is quite right in his assessment of what other countries are doing.

§ Dr. Summerskill
In view of the fact that the Home Office is to spend an additional £30 million over the next three years on civil defence, will the hon. and learned Gentleman tell the House what areas in the Home Office will suffer from cuts in order to provide that extra money? It is a considerable sum. I do not think that the Minister should simply say, as he did in a written answer, that it would be impracticable to tell the House where that£30 million would be found from the Home Office.

§ Mr. Brittan
The answer that was given is accurate. The extra expenditure is being absorbed within the budget generally and has not led to specific cuts in particular areas.