75. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take 250 steps to utilise the services of the county war agricultural executive committees to notify those landowners and occupiers of land of the distinctive numbers on the ordnance survey maps of the lands which they are daily working, with a view to these owners or occupiers appointing one or more men engaged on their land to report, giving the specific number on the ordnance survey maps, of any landings of Nazi paratroopers on those lands, with a view to reporting to the local military headquarters?
§ Mr. LawI am advised that it will be sufficient if the locality of landings is reported by reference to a well-known landmark, and that the use of maps for this purpose is not necessary.
Mr. De la BèreIs my hon. Friend aware that that stereotyped answer will not do? It is quite impossible to distinguish places unless some distinctive number is given. Many of the local names are quite unfamiliar to the authorities. It is a very important question, but it is treated in a stereotyped War Office manner, and that is no good.
§ Mr. LawI am sorry that my hon. Friend should have that view of the answer, but the fact is that this question has been considered by the War Office, and it has seemed to my advisers that the proposal suggested would involve very great complications and would not secure the object which my hon. Friend desires.