§ 3.6 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, I desire to ask His Majesty's Government a question of which I have given private notice; First, whether it is not possible to prevent unauthorised and unidentified friendly 'planes from flying over Great Britain at the present time; and second, whether it is necessary, when an unidentified 'plane has been sighted in the Midlands or North of England, to give immediately the air-raid warning in London and other areas situated at a distance.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL STANHOPE)My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Viscount for raising this question. As the noble Viscount is doubtless aware, civil flying over this country in the ordinary sense is entirely suspended in the present emergency, and no civil aircraft may leave the ground here without express authority issued on behalf of the Secretary of State for the particular flight involved. Heavy penalties are attached to a breach of this regulation. He will realise, of course, that any unauthorised flight over this country is liable to result in the aircraft concerned being destroyed by the anti-aircraft defences. As regards the second part of the noble Viscount's question, the arrangements governing the issue of air-raid warnings provide that only areas which appear liable to attack shall receive warnings. It is, of course, impossible to explain in any detail the circumstances in which the particular warnings referred to were issued. The noble Viscount will, I am sure, agree that, for the present at any rate, it is far better to err, if at all, on the safe side.