§ 1. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the representations made by the 31 pilots and shipping associations, he will consider establishing targets for bombing off Heligoland with observation quadrants stationed on the island, so that long-distance lighting can be established on Heligoland for the safety of shipping in the vicinity.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Arthur Henderson)No, Sir. The island itself presents a type of bombing target which is indispensable to the efficient training of bomber aircraft using the Heligoland range. A target off shore would be useless for the purpose owing to the impossibility of accurate marking, especially at night, as the marker flares burn only for a short time in water and are visible only for short distances. I am advised that the lighting of Heligoland is not essential for the safety of shipping as the island is situated in a mine-danger area into which shipping should not, therefore, go, and that the regular shipping routes in the vicinity are still marked with lighted buoys.
§ Professor SavoryIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman not aware of the important statement made by the British High Commissioner at Bonn, of which I have a copy here, in which he held out the 1706 hope of a satisfactory settlement? May we not, therefore, be assured by the right hon. Gentleman that not only will the islanders soon be restored, but that a lighthouse will once again be erected on the island?
§ Mr. HendersonI regret that I am not able to give that assurance but we are preparaed to consider alternatives; although I am not very hopeful of finding one as satisfactory as Heligoland.