§ 4. Major Sir Jocelyn Lucasasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information as to the effectiveness of enemy dive-bombers at Bir Hacheim, Sevastopol, and in recent battles generally?
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to be good enough to wait until the Debate, when an opportunity will doubtless occur of dealing with this matter.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs it not possible for my right hon. and gallant Friend to say whether the dive-bombers used by the enemy were effective? Is that a matter that must be deferred until the Debate?
§ Captain BalfourI think the hon. Member knows that we have but a short time to wait before the Debate. I think it would be better to wait.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhat is its relevance to the Debate? Is it not possible to ascertain 185 whether the dive-bombers used by the enemy were regarded as effective? Is it not important that we should know that?
§ Captain BalfourIt is indeed important that the hon. Member and the House should know these facts, but they are but a part of the larger picture which is to be dealt with by members of the War Cabinet in the Debate.