HC Deb 12 February 1981 vol 998 c400W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the one day symposium "Coping with the Holocaust" scheduled to have taken place in Ninewells hospital, Dundee, later this month has been cancelled by the Army headquarters in Scotland.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the cancellation, through Army headquarters Scotland's withdrawal, of the proposed symposium on nuclear and chemical warfare "Coping with the Holocaust" due to take place at Ninewells hospital, Dundee later this month; whether he sanctioned the withdrawal and cancellation; and, in view of the need for greater public awareness of the perils of nuclear and chemical war, whether he will reverse the decision and allow the symposium to proceed.

Mr. Goodhart

I understand that this symposium was organised by a local medical unit of the Territorial Army. The intention was to provide a weekend study and discussion period for the unit to which outside speakers had been invited. Invitations to attend were circulated much more widely than had been expected and the study period could have become a major public forum for discussion of civil defence and nuclear matters. As this was not a proper task for the TA unit to perform, the event was cancelled by Head Quarters Scotland. There are no plans for any similar event to take place in the future.