London, June 12.
"We have every reason to expect increased bomber "attacks. but we are prepared for them with increased and improved defence," stated the former Minister for Aircraft Produc-n, Lord Beaverbrook, speaking yesterday for the first time in the House of Lords as Minister of State, He congratulated his successor on the "magnificent" production of aero-vianess and on the record production of engines in May.
Replying to Lord Strabolgi in a debate on civil defence, Lord Beave brook rejected a plea to consolid the various defence services under a single Minister as "there were al-Together too many functions discharged by the various Ministries to permit any amalgamation with advantage to the country.
Replying to Lord Astor's suggestions about providing for the civil population after air raids, Lord Reaverbrook said production was far more important than the effect of air raids on the civil population. Production must continue in all circumstances as far as possible. Military billeting must be the first consideration over civilian billeting when the military were concerned with defence against an invasion wi "might come upon us at any time. Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.