§ 7. Mr. Howard Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now take urgent measures to ensure that the South Downs, in and around Brighton, are immediately cleared of War Department explosives.
§ Mr. HeadExtensive and thorough measures have been taken by specially trained Army battle area clearance teams to clear the South Downs of unexploded missiles. Nevertheless, owing to dense vegetation, it has been extremely difficult to search parts of the areas effectively, even with mine detectors. A further search would be a major task for which men are not available.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of civilians have already been killed by War Department explosives, that another man was killed last week by War Department explosives, and that the evidence given 193 at the coroner's inquest showed that there are still numbers of these explosive missiles on the South Downs? Does not he think it quite negligent of the War Office not to have conducted their search more thoroughly all these years after the war?
§ Mr. HeadThis is a very difficult problem. The South Downs is a very large area, and a really 100 per cent, search of this area would probably need immense numbers of men over a very long period. We have two alternatives open to us. One is to close down the South Downs, and the other is to attempt this very intensive search. The War Office is not capable of carrying out this intensive search at the present time. I find on investigation that the casualties, although they are most regrettable, have been very few and far between. As I say, we have only the two alternatives, either to close down the area or else to leave it open despite these very occasional though very regrettable instances.
§ Mr. JohnsonI wish to give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.