New prime ministers asked to decide what happens if nuclear war destroys London

"Each Pebble group would be an embryo central Government, headed by a senior minister.

"If London were destroyed, the senior surviving minister would take over the surviving central Government, and arrangements have been made for him to exercise control of the Polaris force at sea if neither you nor one of the nuclear deputies survived."

The new prime minister would also have been briefed about the "unlikely" event of a ?bolt from the blue? nuclear strike that killed all forms of government.

Polaris submarine commanders were told if there was a nuclear attack on Britain or if they received no contact from naval headquarters for four hours, they should open a sealed envelope containing a letter from the Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

This set out the conditions under which a second envelope containing specific instructions from the prime minister about the use of the vessels? nuclear weapons should be opened.

The briefing notes disclose that the new premier would have been told: "Mrs Thatcher's orders cease to be operative, and I should like to discuss this matter with you, with a view to obtaining your decision on what the last resort orders should be.?

Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/564430/s/2f6a5f4c/sc/11/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cnews0Cuknews0Cdefence0C10A2135610CNew0Eprime0Eministers0Easked0Eto0Edecide0Ewhat0Ehappens0Eif0Enuclear0Ewar0Edestroys0ELondon0Bhtml/story01.htm

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