Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Air Force. – in the House of Commons at on 19 November 1941.
Mr Oliver Simmonds
, Birmingham Duddeston
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered the petition sent to him by the committee for the abolition of night-bombing; and what reply has been sent or what action taken?
Sir Archibald Sinclair
, Caithness and Sutherland
No petition has been sent to me, but I understand that such a petition has been received by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. It has already been made clear in reply to Questions in this House that His Majesty's Government are not prepared to entertain any proposal of this character.
Mr Oliver Simmonds
, Birmingham Duddeston
Is it not very desirable that in regard to this petition His Majesty's Government Should make it clear to the country the reasons for their objection to this proposal? Will His Majesty's Government take an early opportunity to make these two facts clear? Firstly, that our night bombers could not be used for day work without tremendous sacrifice—
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry