§ 16. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give details of the number of nuclear shelters on Merseyside and on the number of people they will hold.
§ Mr. HurdIt is for the local authority concerned to provide any public nuclear shelters. So far as we know, there are none on Merseyside. The new draft regulations laid on 12 July will, if approved, require local authorities to make plans for using existing buildings, other constructions and natural features as shelters for the public.
§ Mr. ParryIs the Minister aware that the general public feel that any shelters that are built will be used for VIPs, and that in the event of a nuclear attack they will be of no use to the majority of the people? Is he aware that civil defence will be useless in the event of a nuclear attack on our cities?
§ Mr. HurdNo, Sir. The nuclear deterrent works and, we believe, will continue to work. The risk of attack is not very great. However, it is sensible and necessary in our view to make plans, and to require local authorities to make plans, which could save lives and prevent suffering in the case of either nuclear or conventional attack.