§ 2.35 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the American Air Force authorities have been given permission to lay a smoke screen across the Barton Mills to Brandon road, A 1065, at Lakenheath; how many accidents have been reported to the police due to these smoke screens, and what liability rests on the American authorities for such accidents.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SIMONDS)My Lords, the noble Lord will appreciate that the American Forces are here by invitation of Her Majesty's Government, and that while they are here they must take part in training exercises just as our own Forces do. There is no question of permission being given to the United States authorities for the purpose. The police have information of two accidents which have taken place during smoke screen exercises by the United States Air Force. The United States Air Force has machinery for dealing with civil claims in respect of accidents, but there would not appear to be any question of criminal liability, in view of the terms of the United States (Visiting Forces) Act of 1942. Everything is done to mitigate risk or inconvenience to the public when training exercises are carried out, either by our own Forces or by those of our Allies, but I 1168 will ask the noble Earl, the Minister of Defence, if he will see whether the present arrangements for this purpose can be improved.
LORD SANDHURSTMy Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask whether a suggestion can be made to the American Forces that it is completely unnecessary to set up a screen alongside the road just where the trees start, with the wind blowing up the road, so setting up an absolutely impenetrable cloud, while no troops are exercising at all?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORI can only tell the noble Lord that that will come, perhaps, within the scope of the last part of my answer—namely, to see whether the present arrangements can be improved.