HC Deb 11 July 1938 vol 338 cc924-5
73. Brigadier-General Spears

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to ensure that in the event of a sudden emergency it will be possible for the War Department to communicate with anti-aircraft headquarters and for headquarters to get in touch with keymen in the units concerned?

The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Sir Victor Warrender)

Arrangements to ensure prompt communication in such an event already exist.

Brigadier-General Spears

Is the Financial Secretary aware that on 21st May when a sudden emergency arose, it was impossible to communicate with the antiaircraft defence of London by telephone, and nobody was on duty?

Sir V. Warrender

My hon. and gallant Friend and I have had some correspondence on that point and I thought I had satisfied him.

Mr. J. J. Davidson

Is it not the case that there are so few anti-aircraft units in Scotland that it will not take five minutes to communicate with the lot of them?