HC Deb 02 July 1952 vol 503 cc409-10
26. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what estimate of the numbers of the civilian population living in the area of the Korean power stations was taken before the air raids were ordered.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Account was taken of this factor before the attacks were made. The plants attacked were in maintainous country removed from any large centres of population.

Mr. Hughes

Could the Minister assure us that the fate of the civilian population is always taken into account in these raids, and is he not aware that recently a colleague of his, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, defended large-scale bombing of civilians on the ground that it was not practicable to give them any warning?

Mr. Lloyd

I am quite certain that the possible damage to the civilian population is always considered in deciding whether a target should be taken on or not.

Sir I. Moore

Can my hon. Friend say how many people were living in South Korea before they were wantonly attacked by the North Korean Communists?