HC Deb 11 July 1940 vol 362 cc1324-5
28. Mr. Cocks

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the reason for his decision that it is not practicable to issue an order to cut gaps in hedges bordering on high roads and temporarily cover them with hurdles in order to enable civilians attacked from the air to get out of the roads into the fields?

Sir J. Anderson

I do not regard this as a practical proposition as, apart from all other considerations, the amount of work involved would be out of all proportion to the advantages which might accrue from it.

Mr. Cocks

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware, judging from experience in France, that the fact of roads being full of refugees has prevented the efficciency of military operations? If anything can be done to stop that, it is worth considering.

Sir J. Anderson

We are determined to stop it, and we are taking the steps best calculated to secure that object.