§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the second question standing in my name.
§ The question was as follows:
§ [To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will consider the desirability of providing units of the Royal Army Medical Corps now stationed in country districts with facilities for practical training by arranging for them to be drafted, in suitable instances, to urban areas which have suffered or are likely to suffer heavy casualties as a result of enemy action in order that they may assist the first-aid and hospital services in their district.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD CROFT)My Lords, we are willing to provide facilities for the training of the Royal Army Medical Corps units in urban areas or to assist hospital services in that district where this docs not interfere with unit training in mili- 458 tary formations and the military commanders agree that the units can be detached for the assistance of civil authorities.
§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, arising out of the noble Lord's reply, may I ask my noble friend whether opportunities will be given to units stationed in rural areas from time to time to assist the medical authorities in districts which have been subjected to very intense raids?
§ LORD CROFTMy Lords, I shall take note of my noble friend's suggestion. It might be very difficult for us to take units away from rural areas specially to help in urban areas subjected to air attacks. It would not be suggested that we should do so if the units in urban areas were near at hand, but it would be very expensive to move units from country to town as we might have to do a lot of it.