§ 9. Mr. Viantasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the report of the inquiry he promised to make into the conditions at Helmsley Camp where six men were killed in their beds by falling trees.
§ Sir J. GriggFive men lost their lives as a result of this tragic accident and I take this opportunity to express my sympathy with their relatives. The accident was due to a storm and no one was to blame. As I said in my answer to my hon. Friend on 6th February, there is always some such risk when a camp is situated among trees. It is impossible at this stage of the war to rebuild the camp elsewhere or to move the men. But a number of trees have already been felled and felling will continue.
§ Mr. ViantIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is not an isolated incident? Numerous trees have fallen there and it does not need much investigation to know that they are old elm trees.
§ Sir J. GriggMy information is that the last incident, which did not result in any deaths, was in 1942.