§ 3. Lieut.-Colonel Heneageasked the Secretary of State for War whether the London County Council refused to allow the siting of permanent anti-aircraft gun positions on land owned by them; and whether the difficulties raised have now been resolved?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe answer to the first part of the question is "No, Sir." My Department is in active negotiation on this subject with the London County Council, who, I am glad to say, have shown every desire to co-operate.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HeneageIf I bring to my right hon. Friend's notice a case where they have refused, will he look into it?
§ Mr. MuffIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman doing a service to the House when he puts such a question?
§ 7. Major Macnamaraasked the Secretary of State for War whether all the antiaircraft units composing the defence of London are equipped with their full complement of guns, height-finders, and predictors; and whether these are ready for immediate use in an emergency?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaModernised 3-inch guns, complete with the requisite scale of instruments, sufficient for training, are held by all gunner units of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Division. They are ready for immediate use in emergency.
§ Major MacnamaraHave they actually got them now?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaYes, Sir, as I have stated.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThere is a quota for training which is, of course, regulated and determined by the amount of accommodation for these guns. The war stores are, of course, kept in mobilisation stores, but the actual quota required for training, which the units can accommodate has been issued.
§ Mr. ThorneWhat is meant by "the defence of London"—what is the geographical area?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI have given a wider answer. I have taken the whole Division which is much wider than London.
§ Mr. SandysIs the full quota available in the stores?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI have said that a quota for training is available. It is either with the units or it is in store for them, so that it can be issued for camps.
§ Mr. SandysIs the war-time quota in the store?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI am asked whether the requirements of the units have been supplied. In war, of course, very much greater quantities are required. If my hon. Friend wants an answer on that point, I would say that the object of our rearmament programme is to provide greater and greater numbers. Those numbers, of course, will be, and are being, provided gradually. What they require for training is available.
§ 8. Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give an assurance that the Territorial anti-aircraft units, composing the defence of London, can, in the event of war, be supplied with their full complement of guns without having to draw upon the guns of the Regular Army?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe programme now proceeding for equipping Territorial antiaircraft units provides for their being equipped in full, without having to draw upon the equipment of the Regular Army.
9. Major Whiteleyasked the Secretary of State for War whether all the guns allotted to the anti-aircraft units concerned with the defence of London are equipped with up-to-date electrically-controlled instruments?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaYes, Sir, with the exception of 10 guns issued temporarily which will be replaced with modern weapons in due course, the guns allotted to the 1st Anti-Aircraft Division are so equipped.