§ Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Air what steps are taken by the Royal Air Force in Malaya to prevent injury to the unarmed civilian population during raids on bandit areas.
§ Mr. A. HendersonNo bandit-infested area is attacked from the air unless the civil authorities are satisfied that there is no risk to the civilian population. The Royal Air Force take every precaution to ensure accuracy in the attacks.
§ Mr. HughesCould the Minister tell us how it is possible to bomb any area without endangering the population; and 166 paid for married quarters by Royal Air Force officers whose rank is senior to those for whom their accommodation was primarily intended.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Arthur Henderson)As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Air-Commodore Harveyis the right hon. and learned Gentleman still satisfied that the allocation of these quarters to officers who start their service as officers is satisfactory?
§ Mr. HendersonYes, Sir. In relation to the position in civilian life the treatment of these officers and the rents they are asked to pay are, from their point of view, very satisfactory.
§ Following is the answer
§ does he not think that this is more likely to create anti-British feeling in Malaya than anything else?
§ Mr. HendersonI think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. These bombing attacks take place not on urban areas, towns or villages, but on the bandit camps and hide-outs.
§ Mr. EdenIs it not the fact that nearly all these bombs are dropped actually on the jungle, on the bandit columns when they are there, without endangering any population other than animal life?
§ Commander NobleIs it not also the case that in some places the bandits are 167 rather dependent upon those who live around them, and would it not be wise for those people to keep away from the bandits?
§ Mr. Hendersonindicated assent.