A film, simply but carefully made in the 1980s, about the civil defence arrangements in Scotland in preparation for a nuclear attack.

We see a Lothian family trying to follow government advice on what to do if nuclear war threatens – making a lean-to shelter from sloping doors protected with bags of earth and sand. The film contrasts these Heath-Robinson arrangements with the Government’s own, very detailed, plans to ensure its own survival in the event of an attack.

The Home Office had prepared booklets for householders on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack. ‘Protect and Survive’ was the latest of these publications and would be distributed to every home if war was likely. The film discusses the government advice and declares it to be just as ludicrous as it was when the celebrated film “The War Game” was made in the early sixties.

We see shots of restricted documents and exterior views of the bunker at Kirknewton that would form Scotland’s emergency seat of government. The arrangements for control of the civil population after an attack are described including the three zone commands covering Scotland. The film then looks at the lower tiers of local and regional wartime government, particularly focussing on the Lothian regional control centre.

The film summarises the arrangements, saying: “Civil Defence is a plan for the protection of government through a period when many people are likely to be hostile to authority.”

The film is silent but for a simple voice-over, making the content even more chillingly bleak and alarming. Please note, the very beginning of the film appears to be missing and the picture quality has suffered during transfer as the original was grainy and damaged original film. This video recording lasts 17 minutes and 4 seconds.