§ LORD ADDISONMy Lords, I should like to ask His Majesty's Government a question of which I have given private notice—namely, whether any statement can be made as to recent progress in anti-U-boat warfare.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD BRUNTISFIELD)My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for giving me this Opportunity of informing your Lordships about the progress of the battle against the U-boats. In December, January and February last, shipping losses were much lower than a year before. For a variety of reasons March was a poor month, though not the worst of the war; indeed, owing to the high output of new tonnage achieved in the United States, there was a substantial net gain in that month. In April and May losses have been reduced again to the level of the three months December to February, and even below it. In each of the first five months of this year there has been a substantial reduction on the figure of the corresponding period of last year, and a saving of inure than one-third of the losses over the whole of the five mouths. With the American merchant shipping programme nearing its peak, this improved level of losses has resulted in large increases to the tonnage available to the United Nations.
This improved situation in the Battle of the Atlantic reflects the growing size of our escort forces, both ships and aircraft, and the growing deadliness of our new weapons and devices. The increased escorts available make possible not only a higher scale of protection but also a higher general standard of training, and, this, in turn, enables our ships and the aircraft of Coastal Command and the United States Air Forces to reap, by the harmony and co-operation in which they work, a higher dividend from their constantly improving tactics. The escort carriers, of which several are now in service, have already 770 proved their worth. By these means the curve of U-boat destruction has been kept steadily rising. During the last twelve months the number of "kills" exceeds that of the whole of the previous period of the war, and in the last six months the rate of destruction has been 25 per cent. above that of the previous six months. Large numbers have been damaged in addition. In the last two months the number of U-boats in the Atlantic Battle appears to have decreased. This has no doubt been due to more than one cause, but principally to the rising rate of kills at sea. From the provisional assessments it looks as if the number of U-boats destroyed in May will exceed the number which the enemy may probably have brought into service. Certainly May is the best month of the war for "kills" so far.
While the changed situation has thus been primarily due to the increased rate of destruction of U-boats at sea, there can be no doubt that the number of U-boats operating has also been affected by the bombing of the U-boat building yards and of the operational bases in the Bay of Biscay by both American and Royal Air Force bombers. As time goes on the bombing of the building yards and component factories should have an ever-increasing effect. We must no doubt still be prepared to encounter setbacks and periods of heavy loss. The enemy is bound to make great efforts to alter the present situation. Nevertheless, the report I have just made discloses a number of favourable tendencies, and I can give the unqualified assurance that the enemy are quite wrong in asserting, as they have clone, that the low rate of sinkings in April was due to the small amount of shipping at sea. In that month our imports were the highest since the beginning of 1942. The general improvement: in spite of the tremendous U-boat efforts against us, is in itself a tribute to all concerned, including officers and men of the Royal Navy, the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Merchant Navy, the pilots and crews of the Coastal Command and the Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force, and officers and men of the Allied Navies and Air Forces. I would also mention the work of the training establishments, the technicians, the scientists, and the staffs and all sections of workers in the shipyards and aeroplane factories. I feel sure your Lordships can 771 rely upon all concerned to continue the good work, without any relaxation of their efforts in any respect until the U-boat menace is driven from the seas.
§ LORD ADDISONMy Lords, I am sure the whole House and the country outside will receive with gratitude and relief the encouraging report which the noble Lord has given us.
LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend, arising out of the very heartening statement we have just had, whether the Government have reconsidered their policy with regard to publishing actual figures? I suggest that the publishing of the actual sinkings of merchant shipping and the destruction of U-boats, as was done in the last war, might well be considered.
§ LORD BRUNTISFIELDMy Lords, if the noble Lord will allow me to say so, that hardly arises out of the question which I have answered, and I really do not wish to add anything to the statement I have made.