HC Deb 16 May 1944 vol 400 cc8-10
14. Rear-Admiral Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now report upon his investigations concerning the falling of machine-gun and other projectiles into an area of which he has been informed; and what action he is taking to prevent a recurrence of this danger to life and property.

Sir J. Grigg

I much regret these incidents to which my hon. and gallant Friend has drawn my attention. I am expecting a full report about them shortly. From the information I have at present, it seems that the firing took place in areas where it was permitted to take place, but that some of the projectiles accidentally fell outside those areas. The safety precautions for all these areas are, however, now being carefully reviewed, to ensure that they are as strict and as foolproof as possible. Some alterations have already been introduced, and if, as a result of the inquiry into the Steyning incident, more prove to be necessary, they will certainly be made.

Rear-Admiral Beamish

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only the day before yesterday a man was seriously injured by a falling shell in Lewes, and that several other serious casualties took place within a few miles of Lewes? Cannot he hold out some hope that these incidents will be checked by the Council over which he presides?

Sir J. Grigg

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham and Worthing (Earl Winterton) has a Private Notice Question down about the later incident. I have said that I will do my best to stop these incidents.

Later—

Earl Winterton

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for War if he will order an immediate inquiry into the circumstances which resulted in casualties and damage to property in the town of Steyning, Sussex, by artillery fire, on Sunday, 14th May, and if he will cause a review to be made, as a result of this occurrence, of the regulations for ensuring the safety of the public from the consequences of military exercises in certain areas of which he has been informed.

Sir J. Grigg

I very much regret that this tragic accident should have occurred and take this opportunity to express my sympathy with the relatives of the victims. A Court of Inquiry was immediately convened, but the results are not yet available. On the results of the Court of Inquiry, the safety regulations will be carefully investigated with a view to preventing any possible recurrence of such an unfortunate incident. As I said earlier in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Rear-Admiral Beamish) some alterations had already been made which it was hoped would prevent such accidents.

Earl Winterton

In view of certain information which I conveyed to my right hon. Friend, privately, does he not think it desirable before the Court has reported to consider the whole position of the safety of the public in these areas, and will he bear in mind that we in Sussex have been under considerable tension not only due to enemy action but to fatuous propaganda not encouraged by the War Cabinet, in that for the past eight months we have been told that zero hour is imminent and that invasion is coming?

Sir J. Grigg

Certainly, I hope steps have already been taken, or are being taken, which will deal with the matter on an interim basis. As a result of the Court of Inquiry further consideration will be given to the matter.

Sir Herbert Williams

Why was it impossible for the civil authorities to get in touch with the military? Was it due to unnecessary secrecy imposed in relation to telephoning?

Sir J. Grigg

I did not know of that particular incident but I should have thought there was one fairly obvious explanation of it.

Mr. Bellenger

Am I right in assuming that this will be a military Court of Inquiry held by military officers? If so, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to receive information from civil witnesses, in view of the questions which have just been put from the Front Bench?

Sir J. Grigg

It certainly is a military Court of Inquiry and I am certainly prepared myself to forward to the court any information that may be brought to my notice.

Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward

Is it not a fact that several of these training areas are now unsafe owing to the long range of modern guns?

Mr. Edgar Granville

When making the inquiries, will the right hon. Gentleman see that the regulations are tightened up in regard to red flag signals in the vicinity of battle centres, because this is not the first occurrence of this kind?

Rear-Admiral Beamish

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the great difficulty which has occurred in the past month—during which he has had warning from me—is that, when these things happen, the local people endeavour to get into contact with the military authorities, and neither through the police nor the Home Guard are they ever able to do so, and the firing continues and so do the casualties?

Sir J. Grigg

I hope that particular difficulty is not a lasting one. I will consider whether the regulations sufficiently cover that.

Sir Irving Albery

Would communication with the Regional Commissioner be effective?