7. Brigadier-GeneralNATION asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the nature of the protection that the Government propose giving to the civilian population of the United Kingdom in the event of attack from the air?
§ 11. Mr. MANDERasked the Home Secretary what action is being taken to protect the civil population of London in the event of aerial attack?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)The question of the protection of the civil population against the possible contingency of attack from the air has been engaging the close attention of every Government for the past nine years, and I would refer to the announcement on this subject which was made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on the 10th November, 1932, when, he used the following words:
I will not pretend that we are not taking our precautions in this country. We have done it. We have made our investigations, much more quietly and hitherto without any publicity, but, considering the years that are required to make your preparations, any Government of this country in the present circumstances of the world would have been guilty of criminal negligence had they neglected to make their preparations."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th November, 1932; col. 633, Vol. 270.]
§ Brigadier-General NATIONDo these measures apply to the whole country or only to London?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe whole country.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the possibility of the need arising in the next 10 years, is it not desirable that the general public should have some idea of what they are expected to do, and will the right hon. Gentleman issue some further instructions on the subject?
§ 47. Captain CUNNINGHAM - REIDasked the Secretary of State for Air if the air policy of His Majesty's Government has been based upon the stabilisation of the leading air forces of the world upon a. parity basis or whether any account has been taken of the prohibition of air bombardment suggested at the Disarmament Conference?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)As regards parity, His Majesty's Government made it plain, in their statement of policy of 17th November, 1932, and subsequently in the draft Convention communicated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the Disarmament Conference on 16th March, 1933, that their immediate objective in the field of air disarmament is the attainment of equality amongst the principal air Powers by means, if possible, of an all-round reduction in the present strength of air forces. Article 41 240 of the draft Convention contains a suggested table of first-line strengths, but the final figures must, of course, be a matter for further discussion and negotiation. As regards air bombardment, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Article 34 of the draft Convention.
§ Captain HAROLD BALFOURIf other countries do not come down to our suggested level, shall we go up?
§ Sir P. SASSOONshould like notice of that question.