HC Deb 02 March 1943 vol 387 cc471-2

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Captain C. S. TAYLOR:

46. To ask the Prime Minister whether any members of the Staff responsible for the planning of an operation of which he has been informed, were attached to the Eighth Army in order to study the successful methods of Army and Air co-operation that have been practised by the Eighth Army?

Captain Taylor

Before the Question is answered, I would explain that the operations referred to in the Question are those of the First Army in North Africa.

Mr. Attlee

No, Sir, but General Eisenhower and his Staff who carried out the detailed planning of this operation had before them at every stage all the available information and the advice of officers with practical experience of Army and Air co-operation in the Middle East.

Captain Taylor

Am I to infer from that answer that no members of the staff of the First Army were sent out to the Eighth Army to gain from the experience of the Eighth Army in air co-operation?

Mr. Attlee

I think the answer is quite clear. Members of the staff responsible for planning whether attached to the Eighth Army or with General Eisenhower's staff, had the advantage of all the available information and advice of officers with practical experience of Army and Air co-operation in the Middle East.

Sir H. Williams

Was there not one person from the First Army attached to the Eighth Army? Was there not one?