HL Deb 25 July 1968 vol 295 cc1242-3
LORD FERRIER

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that the Meteorological Office were unable to foretell the violent gale of the 14th-15th January or the torrential rain of the 10th July in time for useful warning to be given to the public in the areas concerned.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, the Meteorological Office gave as much warning of these events as was technically possible.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his rather Delphic Answer, do I take it that the Government were satisfied? Would the noble Lord care to consider the possibility of breaking into the Radio 4 programme or television, rather in the same way as the Light Programme is broken into with "Attention all shipping!", so that land people may be warned of such approaching catastrophes?

LORD CHALFONT

Yes, my Lords, we will bear that in mind. I would point out that something of that sort was done on one of the occasions to which the noble Lord has made reference. A flash warning was broadcast immediately before one of these events. We will, of course, continue to bear this in mind as a way of warning people of what is about to happen.