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Title: LOTHIAN WAR PLAN, the

Reference number: 8611

Date: 1982

Director: [d. Dave Rushton?]

Production company: Red Star

Sound: sound

Original format: super 8mm

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 16.31 mins

Description: Lothian War Plan dramatises details uncovered for the protection of local government and military capacity at the expense of civilians in an around Edinburgh in 1981-82.

It is based on information released in the British government's public information campaign on civil defence in the event of nuclear war: 'Protect and Survive'.

Credits: Research Technical Author's Group (Scotland).
Production Red Star. 1982

Shotlist: [shotlisted from timecoded Quicktime file, manual control track]

(0.00) until today Jenny, Ewan, Bridget lived..., they've had to move from their council block 2 bedroomed flat tothis workshop room lent by a friend. They're following govt advice on what to do if nuclear war threatens, everyone living above the 3rd floor is being told to move. gvs ints flat, moving about children and mother THE LOTHIAN WAR PLAN. OVER THE YEARS THE HOME OFFICE HAS RELEASED VARIOUS BOOKLETS TO HOUSEHOLDERS regarding what to do in the event of a nuclear war (0.37) c/u Protect and Survive booklet[ which will be distributed to every household in the likelihood of nuclear war] shot of woman reading booklet "If Britain is attacked by nuclear bombs or by missiles, we do not know what targets will be chosen or how severe the assault will be" plans to move from high rise etc into more protected accommodation (1.20) c/u page 'Stay at Home' 'if you leave your local authority may need to take your empty house for others to use." [veiled threat] (1.32) gvs constructing a lean-to wooden fallout shelter at home. 'policy is stay put' (2.35) map of Scotland showing plans to blockade of essential service routes in the run up to war (2.49) Police Manual of Home Defence, further shots family making shelter [commentary says the government can't justify building shelters for every family in the land as threat is so slight] (3.22) gvs papers detailing governments very detailed plans for its survival - these are not available to the public. circulars detailing the power would be in the hands of the government(4.12) family building shelter. Commentary: 'these people could order us about as they wished withholding food to those who would not readily comply' / 'the great attraction of the post-nuclear world for the civil servant would be the opportunity to start from scratch barely restrained in their plans' (4.39) [in the event of nuclear war Scotland will get Home Rule] map of Scotland, marked up with Glasgow, Edinburgh, Kirknewton, not ruled by elected assembly in Glasgow or Edinburgh but from nearby Kirknewton. Extensive plans for self defence have resulted in a number of buildings for this hidden government (5.03) exts Kirknewton [commentary points out 6ft walls of solid concrete, as opposed to makeshift home shelters] This would become the centre of govt in Scotland in the event of war 'Scottish Central Control' they would be sealed inside, they would control distribution of food, medical aid. Only one elected rep would be allowed in, the post of Scottish Commissioner [at present George Younger]. Also Sir David Scott Barrett commanding the armed forces throughout Scotland 'Chief of Staff'; Sir Edward Frizell would admin the 'Police Commissioner', senior civil servants from most govt. depts.' Under Secretary', 'Fire Service' 'Oil Executive','Scottish Gas', 'NCB', 'SSEB' 'NSHEB [building industry], 'Construction' 'Forth River Purification', 'Radiologist' 'Meteorologist' selected journalists to operate a wartime broadcasting service (6.43) map showing central control at Kirknewton plus other command centres 'Northern Zone' 'Western Zone' 'Eastern Zone'. HQ in Northern Zone Troy Wood near Anstruther. West Zone East Kilbride. East Zone Barnton Quarry in Edinburgh (7.42) exts Barnton Quarry [this former RAF early warning radar station became a govt wartime bunker in 1961. Providing regional govt for the eastern zone the zone commissioner would be a civil servant and not an elected representative] (8.06) [eyes and ears of the system commanded by the zone commissions in the immediate aftermath of an attack would be a voluntary corps - The Royal Observer Corps] gvs observing bunkers [responsible for monitoring the nuclear strikes and observing the pattern of fallout - there are 872 such bunkers throughout Britain] shot of bunker near Turnhouse. [instruments for measuring fallout and drift etc as it begins to settle in 1st 48 hrs after explosions, they have own sanitation etc can survive for long periods in areas of high radioactivity. independent of public services] (9.20) gvs telephone lines. [there are also underground lines and radio links to reconnaissance aircraft] (9.43) shot of map again [each regional authority is represented in the command] , then cut to exts Alderston House in East Lothian in peacetime an admin centre for Highways Dept. in wartime becomes regional HQ Centre from basement. The regional CEO and emergency planning officer would lead a team to implement the local policies directed by the zones 'Secret Lothian War Plan' already dozen employees know they would have response in event of nuclear war. Worries over proximity to Torness (10.48) ext Royal Air Force base, Turnhouse [maximum defence for govt and military as opposed to 'do it yourself defence of civilians. During recent war exercise 'Operation Square Leg'. The war plan was acted out in a hypothetical nuclear attack on Britain with 26 bombs dropped on Scotland. All civilian airports would be prime targets in the event of a nuclear strike] (11.43) exts Grangemouth, lorry driving along laden with canisters [essential to functioning of industry in Scotland, War Plan has special plans to deal with energy supplies in event of nuclear war] (12.07) exts Rosyth Dockyard, an important centre for Polaris Submarine [here routine maintenance inspection and repair work is carried out on the fleet of submarines. It receives and dispatches regular shipments of nuclear materials (12.31) Forth Road and rail bridges [destroyed in event of war targetting of Rosyth] Pitreavie Castle houses a major military command in sight of both the road and rail bridges and Rosyth exts [its operations room is protected well underground] shot of surface grounds, bunker being built at Pitreavie is for telecommunications equipment essential to NATOs functioning in the UK (13.20) Craigiehall exts lies on Southern side of Forth. shot of sign 'HQ Scotland (Army). Commentary: ' in the days prior to nuclear exchange Craigiehall would have control of all armed forces in Scotland' gvs exts extensive protected accommodation (1344) crowds walking along city street. [by contrast people in the city of Edinburgh not catered for at all in terms of public fallout shelter. In event of attack all shops and food stocks become responsibility of zone govt. Foodstores will be protected by the police & military and will have first call on any resources that survive] (14.09) Ewan wee boy c/u face, c/u Protect & Survive' then shot of him painting window following its instructions on how to survive the heat from nuclear explosion. Commentary: 'we can begin to see the double standard that comprises civil defence. We build ludicrous shelters far less than adequate and stay home to fry.' / 'Civil defence is a programme to preserve a system of goverment.' / 'Law & order is no. 1 on the list, not food supplies, not medical aid.' / commentary also notes police have had chance to practice some civil defence already during major civil disputes eg summer riots (16.10) Ewan walks off (16.13) Research Technical Author's Group (Scotland). Production Red Star. 1982 (16.31)