HC Deb 28 January 1943 vol 386 cc604-5
38. Mr. Thorne

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the alert was not given on the daylight raid on London on Wednesday until after the first bomb had already fallen; and why the sirens were not sounded before this?

Mr. H. Morrison

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made yesterday in the House by the Secretary of State for Air.

Mr. Thorne

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that answer did not cover the question? Why were the sirens not sounded before the bomb was dropped, and is it not the case that there is a possibility—at any rate, that is my opinion—that if the sirens had been sounded before the bomb dropped, some of the children's lives would have been saved?

Mr. Morrison

That is a matter of some speculation. I do not think I can add to the statement that was made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air. If one went too far into details in this matter, one would be doing what I am sure my hon. Friend would not wish to do, namely, conveying information to the enemy.

Mr. Thorne

Is it not the case that the answer referred to dealt only with balloons?