§ 41. Mr. Loughlinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure on civil defence for the period 1st January to 1st November, 1961; and what percent age of the total cost was allocated to the provision of deep air raid shelters.
§ Mr. RentonThe information requested in the first part of the Question is not available, but the estimated Government expenditure on home defence preparations for the financial years 1960–61 and 1961–62 is shown in the Report on Defence 1960 (Cmnd. 952) and the Report on Defence 1961 (Cmnd. 1288). These estimates do not include any expenditure on the provision of deep air-raid shelters.
§ 42. Mr. Loughlinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to safeguard the general public against a surprise nuclear attack; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerIt is impracticable to hold emergency services and emergency preparations in a state of instant readiness at all times; but these arrangements, including in particular the system for giving public warning of attack, could be brought into operation at short notice in a period of alert.