HC Deb 26 March 1942 vol 378 cc2140-1
54. Sir John Mellor

asked the Home Secretary whether invasion committees will be given facilities for studying scorched-earth policy and methods?

Mr. H. Morrison

The function of invasion committees is to co-ordinate the preparations of the various military and civilian services at the local level. The representatives of the services concerned with the denial of resources to the enemy will be in a position to inform an invasion committee of their instructions and plans, in so far as this may be necessary for the work of the committee.

Sir J. Mellor

Will special training be given to appropriate Civil Defence personnel in scorched-earth methods?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think we ought to go into too much detail in public. Democratic institutions inevitably provide the enemy with a lot of information.

Miss Eleanor Rathbone

In view of the fact that a large proportion of the able-bodied civil population will be women who will have to carry out these instructions, will the Minister see that the committees include a good number of women and that they are able to get detailed instructions as to how to mislead the enemy in all kinds of ways?

Mr. Morrison

The actual appointments will be made mainly by local people. To some extent, therefore, this is not in my hands, but I will keep my hon. Friend's point in mind and see whether I can do anything about it.