§ 16. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will explain the discrepancies in the official accounts of 921 the air raid on the North-East Coast on the night of 6th June, and especially state why the first notice issued on 7th June gave five deaths and it was only on 16th June that twenty-four deaths were announced?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)Immediately after the air raid five were the number of deaths reported and included in the official communiqué. As the result of further and more complete inquiries, it was ascertained that the number of deaths was twenty-four, including those who subsequently died of injuries or shock.
§ Mr. KINGIs my right hon. Friend aware that it took ten days to find out what people were talking about in this lobby one or two days after; and why was there this reticence about stating facts which could be of no material assistance to the enemy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI will say generally that we issue a full statement of casualties so far as they are known at the time. We get them from the reports of the police. Perhaps I might be allowed to say my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will issue the lists altogether.