HC Deb 16 October 1940 vol 365 cc682-3
10. Mr. Glenvil Hall

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, as the names of the staff employed in A 1, 6 of the Air Ministry were recently published by a London evening newspaper, he will now give the House the information relating to these officers recently asked for by the hon. Member for Colne Valley?

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to the hon. Member on 24th July.

Mr. Hall

If these names are published, why should they be withheld from this House? Have the Ministry something to hide?

Captain Balfour

No, we have nothing to hide, but we do not want to tell the enemy the names of those who are engaged in this Department. The fact that an evening paper gave what purported to be the names of some of the members of the staff does not mean that we should give the hon. Gentleman full information, which we should have to do if we were to reply fully to his Question.

Mr. Hall

These men carry officer's rank. Why should they do so when they are doing civilian work?

Captain Balfour

The hon. Gentleman asked whether we would give the names of the members of the staff. He is now raising quite a different question.