HC Deb 05 September 1940 vol 365 cc18-9
Mr. Speaker

I am informed that an air raid is now considered to be imminent, and I will accordingly suspend the Sitting.

On resuming, after an interval of 35 minutes—

Mr. Speaker

The House will remember that when I suspended the Sitting, it was on the receipt of a message from the Fighter Command that an air raid was imminent. Since then I have received a further message that the immediate danger is passed, but the House must remember that the red warning is still in operation, and we are still on the alert. I have given orders that strangers should be readmitted to the Gallery. The House will also remember that when I suspended the Sitting at 20 minutes past three o'clock we had not finished Questions, and on the present occasion I propose that we shall continue Questions for a further 25 minutes.

Mr. Bellenger

In view of what has happened this afternoon, may I ask whether our procedure in this respect cannot be revised? This is not exactly a good advertisement for the House of Commons. We cannot hope to make successful appeals to factory workers to carry on their work during air raids, if the House of Commons itself is constantly to adjourn on receipt of air-raid warnings. I do not know what is the correct procedure to follow to have this matter reconsidered, and whether it rests with you, Mr. Speaker, or with the Prime Minister, but I earnestly trust that the whole system will be revised.

Mr. Speaker

When the Prime Minister makes a statement later, I understand that he intends to refer to this matter, and perhaps the House will await that statement.