§ Mr. N. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the concern that Civil Defence is not being given sufficient attention by the authorities; and, in view of the need to alleviate this concern among men and women who are willing to serve the community in this respect, if he will give details of the action he intends to take to do this.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Government's plans for a revised programme of home defence preparations over a wide field were announced in paragraphs 39 to 41 of "Report on Defence 1961" (Cmnd. 1288). The development of these plans is proceeding and progress is kept under constant review. The Government has again stressed, in the course of the recent civil defence recruiting campaign, the importance which it attaches to the civil defence organisation, and to the contribution which local authorities and volunteers are making to it. I am glad to have this further opportunity of endorsing this.