asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on the outcome of the Government's review of the Civil Defence organisation.

The review is still in progress.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not appreciate that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said more than three months ago that the Government would be making an announcement on this very soon? Does he not appreciate the very real effect on morale which this continuing delay is having on Civil Defence workers?

An announcement will be made as soon as possible. I understand the need to end uncertainty

Is not the Civil Defence organisation now generally accepted as being redundant? Is it not generally expected that the review will reveal this to be so and abolish the organisation, which no longer has any useful purpose to serve in a nuclear age?

I will certainly not accept that.