§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLING(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether the Government is prepared to make a 29 statement for the reassurance of the public as to the prevention of daylight raids by enemy aeroplanes by the adoption of a policy of reprisals on the principle of two bombs for one on enemy towns of equal military significance to those recently raided by the enemy in this country; also, ii he will consider the standardisation throughout the United Kingdom of a system of warning both for day and night raids; whether he will reconsider the Government's decision to refuse compensation to the people of this country who have become victims of our inadequate air defences; whether he will appoint a Commander-in-Chief to be in sole and absolute control of the air defences of this country, or, alternatively, whether he will request the Admiralty to' instruct the Vice-Admiral Commanding Dover Patrol to prevent the concentration in Flanders of enemy aeroplane raiding squadrons by employing the facilities at his disposal in the squadrons of the R.N.A.S. in Flanders under his command; and whether, failing the adoption of some or all of these expedients, he will instruct the competent military authorities to make arrangements for the immediate evacuation of the entire civil population of all the towns on the east and south-east coasts within striking distance of the known enemy aeroplane concentration bases in Flanders?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMany places in the occupation of the enemy of at least equal military importance to the towns recently raided are constantly bombed by our air forces. Zeebrugge alone was raided on twenty-four separate occasions in April and May, when over 1,000 bombs, containing thirty tons of explosives, were dropped; the system of warning for day and night raids is being improved; the reply to the third part of the question is in the negative. As regards the fourth part, the Commander-in-Chief Home Forces is in control of the air defences of the country; in these circumstances the Government is not prepared to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask is it the intention to use the principle of reprisal raids when the enemy raids towns of no military importance and kills people in this country?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is the intention to use our air forces in the way in which it 30 is considered they may inflict the greatest amount of damage on the enemy.
§ Mr. BILLINGAre you prepared to consider the question of compensation for poor people who have been injured and whose property has been destroyed owing to inadequate air service?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat question has been discussed many times.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the Government prepared to consider it?
§ Mr. G. FABERThis question of the air defences being insufficient, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that it is the fact that the German aeroplanes coming in the daylight come at something like 12,000 feet in height, and that they come singly and concentrate when they arrive here, and that it is extraordinarily difficult to prevent them?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am sure the House fully realises the point raised by my hon. Friend. The Government and the War Office and the Air Board have been in constant communication as to the best method of dealing with the matter.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWhat Minister is at present in charge of the air defences?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have said that all the air defences at home are entirely under the control of the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces. As regards the general Air Service there is, as the House knows, an Air Board, and there is also the Army and Navy in control.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHI asked about a Minister of Air.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have said there is no Minister in command of the air forces.
§ Mr. BILLINGMember for the East Herts Division of Hertford, rose in his place, and asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the recent enemy aeroplane raids and the lack of an adequate offensive to prevent the same," but the pleasure of the House not having been signified, Mr.. SPEAKER called on those Members who supported the Motion to rise in their places, and, less than forty Members having accordingly risen, the House proceeded to the Business of the Day.