HC Deb 01 July 1943 vol 390 cc1787-8
75. Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, in a recent raid on a place, of which he has been informed, the sirens did not sound until the raid had been in progress for 15 minutes and that the sirens may not be sounded until instructions to do so are received from another district; and will he reconsider this position?

Mr. H. Morrison

According to reports which I have received the alert was sounded one minute after the first bombs had dropped. As regards the second part of the Question, instructions to sound sirens are not given from another district, but from the Air Officer Commanding, Fighter Command. Measures for increasing the efficiency of warnings are constantly under consideration, but my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that as my predecessor and I have frequently pointed out, there can be no guarantee that a warning will always be given before bombs fall.

Sir A. Lambert Ward

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in certain private industrial undertakings information was given that enemy aircraft were on the way at least 15 minutes before the sirens were sounded?

Mr. Morrison

I was not aware of that, but we are going into the system, and I hope that that difficulty may be overcome.