HC Deb 20 February 1986 vol 92 c468
6. Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider endowing a chair for civil defence in a British university.

Mr. Shaw

We have no plans to do so.

Mr. Jessel

Civil defence could save many lives. Should we not study the facts with great care to show up the sheer irresponsibility of the variable response to which my hon. Friend referred a quarter of an hour ago?

Mr. Shaw

I accept my hon. Friend's point. It is a serious subject worthy of proper research. We have allocated about £1 million out of the civil defence budget for research projects into civil defence, which will achieve, I trust, the objectives that my hon. Friend seeks.

Mr. Haynes

I do not agree with the question, but I agree with the answer. Will the Minister have a word with his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to consider at the next Cabinet meeting the creation of a chair in unemployment in the universities of Britain for unemployment and appoint a professor or the noble Lord Young to sit in it?

Mr. Shaw

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his sterling contribution. It is not a chair that we need, but more job opportunities.