§ 66. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Air how many times the Royal Air Force has been in action during the present year; what were the casualties suffered; if there is any estimate of the casualties inflicted; 324 and whether on all occasions warning is given before dwellings are bombed in order that non-combatants may be moved to a place of safety?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR(Major Sir Philip Sassoon)The answer to the first part of the question is five times; to the second, two casualties; to the third, that as in at least one case the bombing supervened on inter-tribal fighting and the casualties due to the one cause or the other could not be distinguished, no estimate under this head can usefully be given; to the last part of the question, that explicit warnings were given in all cases, except where the air action was taken in defence of Iraqi tribesmen who were being raided by invading and looting tribesmen.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn the latter case were any dwelling houses bombed? I am not asking the tribes that were attacked in the field, but whether any dwellings were bombed?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe latter case applies to invading tribes coming from a great distance and having to be dealt with summarily many hundreds of miles from their homes.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMy question refers to dwellings being bombed. Is it a fact that in all circum stances warning was given before dwellings were bombed?
§ Sir P. SASSOONYes.