HC Deb 24 November 1981 vol 13 c740
6. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the medical profession about medical emergencies arising from a nuclear attack; and what plans he has to protect the population.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

None, Sir. However, I am aware that the British Medical Association has set up an inquiry into the medical effects of nuclear war. The National Health Service has been given guidance on how health care services should be organised in the event of such a war.

Mrs. Short

Does the Minister consider that the medical profession should give information to the public about how restricted it would be in preventing terrible suffering and a massive number of deaths in the event of a nuclear attack? Does he believe that he should encourage it to do that? Does he agree that the best way of preventing the appalling calamities that could happen to this population would be to do away with all nuclear weapons and make sure that they were never used?

Mr. Finsberg

Whatever else my responsibilities are, they are not in foreign affairs and defence. The British Medical Association is a free organisation, quite able, if it wishes, to put forward its own views.

Mr. Stokes

Is my hon. Friend aware that the local authorities already have a responsibility for civil defence, which all hon. Members should support, and not try to cause alarm and despondency?

Mr. Finsberg

If my hon. Friend was saying that the question was causing alarm and despondency, I agree with him.

Mr. Cryer

Is it not a scandal that the Secretary of State is prepared to spend £500,000 on creating ludicrous defence organisational posts in the area health authorities? Is not the reality that in 1978–79—apparently the last year for which figures are available—there was a shortage of 900 doctors and consultants in the National Health Service? Should not money be spent on providing those posts rather than ludicrous defence organisational posts, because the Minister knows full well that there is no defence against nuclear warfare?

Mr. Finsberg

That is the subject of a later question.

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