§ 2.38 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT BRIDGEMANMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ The ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that in connection with a recent exercise for Civil Defence and Royal Observer Corps a rehearsal was called for the afternoon of Saturday, 3rd May, which was also the time of the Cup Final, and whether they will see to it that in the interests of the morale of the voluntary forces concerned such a clash of dates is avoided in the future.]
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, this is certainly one of the considerations which are borne in mind in fixing the dates of major exercises of this kind, but there are a number of others to be taken into account and it is not always possible to avoid a clash with national sporting events. I should like to take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the public spirit of the volunteers—nearly 10,000 in all—who gave up two week-ends to this important exercise, which was of great value in testing the system for handling reports of radioactive fall-out. I am glad to say that my information is that their morale was very high indeed.
§ VISCOUNT BRIDGEMANMy Lords, while associating myself with the remarks of my noble friend about the morale of the voluntary forces concerned, may I remind him that one of the advantages of the Question and Answer at this time of the year is that those concerned will have plenty of time, before next year's exercise, to plan to avoid the incidents which occurred this last time.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I am sure that my right honourable friend will be most interested in the noble Lord's words.