BE PREPARED

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 5

BE PREPARED

BRITAIN'S CIVIL DEFENCES RETENTION PROPOSED LONDON, November 6. The Home Secretary, Mr Chuter Ede, moving the second reading of the Civil Defence • (Suspension Powers) Bill, announced that the Government regarded it as essential to retain the defence organisation. He paid a tribute to the work of the civil defence during the war, and added that what happened during the war meant that the technique of civil defence in many respects was outdated. The purpose of the Bill was to bring civil defence up to date. The Government desired to have a service which was designed to deal with what the country would ■probably have to meet in the future. > , Mr Ede said nobody would be more pleased than the Government if it could repeal the Civil Defence _ Act, being satisfied that the risk of air attack on Britain had passed for all.time. The Government, unhappily, could not take this viev. It was the Government's essential duty to take the necessary precautions as long as Britain was still liable to attack. The Government directed that study should be made of recent forms of air attacks. Missions had been sent to Germany to, study the effect of saturation bombing and the way h which the German civil defence reacted. Scientists were in Japan investigating the effects of the atomic bomb. The Government would in due time know a great deal more about the standard shelter required, and the type of organisation best fitted to deal with air attack in the future. He appealed to those who took such an outstanding part in Britain's defence during the war to keep together so that they would be there if required.. Mr Ede added that it was intended that the process of'rebuilding civil defence within the framework of the legislation already sanctioned should begin in a quiet,* orderly manner. The Government would submit new proposals to Parliament if any radical alteration in the whole system of civil defence was necessary or advisable. They all hoped that the organisations at present being prepared to deal with the world's future peace might be effective, but it would be necessary for at least some years to watch carefully to see that Britain was fully prepared to meet anything that might come upon. her.