§ 16. Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the series of accidents involving serious injuries, in several cases fatal, to children as a result of misadventure in handling projectiles left by military forces during manœuvres in a district of which he has been informed; and whether he will cause immediate inquiry to be made as to the choice of more suitable terrain for such manœuvres and institute such regulations as will reduce to the minimum the possibility of repeating such tragedies?
§ Sir J. GriggI am aware of only two such cases. One of those was dealt with in an answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Sir W. Smithers) on 13th April, and I am still investigating the other about which my hon. Friend has written to me. If the result of the present inquiry shows that a tightening up of the rules is needed, I will consider how this may best be done.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that two such accidents have occurred in the same district within the space of two or three weeks, involving many casualties, and that this, in my opinion, is partly due to the bad choice of terrain making it impossible for these blanks to be found? Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that more suitable terrain in the same district is used?
§ Sir J. GriggAs I said, I am inquiring into the incident about which the hon. Member wrote to me, and if my inquiry does disclose that there should be any tightening up, I will consider how best it can be done.