HC Deb 21 March 1940 vol 358 cc2121-2
68. Mr. Cary

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state briefly the military recommendations which are assumed to make the black-out regulations an essential part of our defences?

The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood)

The purpose of the black-out is to render air navigation, the location of targets and accurate bomb-aiming more difficult, and practical experience has shown that it does in fact have these effects.

Mr. Cary

Is it not a fact that in the Sylt raid the fires started by the first bombers guided other bombers to their targets, thus proving the German black-out to be quite useless?

Sir K. Wood

Obviously, I cannot comment on that.

Sir H. Williams

Can the Minister give any place in this country where the black-out has proved effective?

Sir K. Wood

That is another matter.