HL Deb 24 January 1983 vol 438 cc121-2WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will recognise that civil defence is not credible in this country with its crowded urban areas while their defence strategy is based on nuclear weapons; and whether they will therefore abandon their attempt to compel local authorities to take part in what many councillors and local government workers regard as a dangerous and heartless fraud.

Lord Elton

No. Civil defence would reduce the effect of any foreseeable attack on this country, whether with conventional or nuclear weapons and could save millions of lives.