§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the removal of population in the vicinity of nuclear power stations in the event of a war fought with conventional weapons.
§ Mr. Giles ShawLocal authorities are responsible for plans to protect the population in their area and are guided in this by the Goverment. The planning assumptions for civil defence are set out in Home Office Circular number ES 1/1984 (a copy of which is in the Library of the House). It is expected that the use of conventional weapons would be confined to targets of military significance and it is unlikely that an enemy would give high priority to industrial or civilian targets (that is, including nuclear power stations). I also refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy on 12 and 26 November at c.92–3 and 370–71.