§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that rumours have circulated in Liverpool after air-raids as to the number of casualties, which, being far from the truth, may have a demoralising effect upon the citizens; and if he will ensure in the future that an official report is published as quickly as possible, giving the exact number of casualties incurred in each raid, thus avoiding the spreading of false rumours which are difficult to counteract?
§ Mr. MabaneFor reasons given in his reply on 1st April to a Question by the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) my right hon. Friend is not prepared to make a practice of giving figures of casualties arising from particular incidents or on particular days. Lists showing names and addresses of casualties are posted locally, and by this means full information is given to those directly concerned. Total casualties for the whole country are published at the end of each month. Rumours are, I am aware, put into circulation, but I am confident that credence is not given to them by the majority of citizens, and that the morale of the country has not in fact suffered.