§ 58. Sir L. Lyleasked the Home Secretary whether private notices are issued to the Press on each day following enemy air attacks indicating the districts in which these attacks have occurred; and why the same information is not given to Members of Parliament whose constituencies are affected?
§ Mr. MabaneThe Press is informed in confidence at the end of each night when air raids have taken place, which are the districts in which bombing has occurred. This is done, to enable them to handle with discretion and in proper perspective the very considerable amount of information about bombing and bomb damage which reaches the Press from its own sources. As regards the second part of the Question, the arrangements which have already been made for the information of hon. Members are, I believe, working well, while the procedure suggested by my hon. Friend has many difficulties and would not be likely to be so satisfactory to hon. Members. Nevertheless my right hon. Friend will have it examined further.
§ Sir L. LyleWould it not appear from that answer that the Department considers that Members of Parliament are less reliable than the Press?
§ Mr. MabaneCertainly not.
§ Mr. LoftusIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in many districts the police 943 furnish accurate and quick information to Members of Parliament who ask for it?
§ Mr. SorensenCould not the hon. Gentleman recommend to appropriate local authorities that they should keep their local Members of Parliament in touch with any air-raid events?
§ Mr. MabaneThe hon. Member has already had a letter addressed to him informing him that arrangements have been made in that sense.