§ 59. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether there has been planned and prepared, to meet the contingency of the disablement of Air Ministry communications by enemy action either against the Ministry or the General Post Office, any alternative headquarters site and means of communication between units?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI regret I cannot add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 1st December last. I am sure the House will appreciate that it would be quite impossible to disclose strategic and operational plans.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I made no such request to him, but that I am merely asking him for an assurance that plans have been made for some alternative headquarters in the event of the destruction of the Air Ministry communications, and how can it be contrary to the public interest to give an assurance on that point? Is he further aware that there is widespread concern in informed quarters at the lack of planning in the Air Ministry for meeting this contingency?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI naturally appreciate that there is widespread concern among the public generally that there should be adequate planning necessary for the defences of the country, but I 383 confess I am not aware that there is widespread concern that the necessary precautions are not being taken. As I informed the hon. Member last week, all possible precautions are being taken to cover contingencies of the nature indicated in the hon. Member's question, but I am sure that he and the House will appreciate that it is extremely difficult and likely to be very much against the public interest to become involved in question and answer on a matter of this kind.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that he is not the only person who is concerned for the public interest in this matter, and will he state specifically whether the elementary precaution has been taken of providing alternative means of communication and an alternative site for the present Air Ministry?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI hope I did not give the impression to the House that I thought I was the only person concerned. I was rather particular to indicate at the beginning of my remarks that I was naturally well aware that there was widespread concern that the best possible precautions should be taken. I will again bring to the hon. Member's notice the answer to the question to which I referred, when I said that all possible precautions are being taken to cover contingencies of the nature indicated in the hon. Member's question, and I think that really indicates that the matter is thoroughly before the Air Ministry.
§ Mr. David GrenfellIs not the hon. and gallant Gentleman of the opinion that this is the first and most essential of all air-raid precautions, and should not the House receive the assurance asked for by the hon. Gentleman?