HC Deb 28 September 1939 vol 351 cc1479-80
65. Mrs. Tate

asked the Home Secretary whether any steps are to be taken to deal with the illumination at night provided by the burning slag-heap at Writhlington, in view of the fact that nearby villages are blacked out?

Sir J. Anderson

By inter-departmental arrangement the supervision of burning spoil-heaps is undertaken by alkali inspectors of the Ministry of Health. This particular heap has been visited on a number of occasions in recent months. I understand that when the heap was last visited it was found that the flames had been quenched and only a slight smouldering was visible.

Mrs. Tate

Can my right hon. Friend take my assurance that at present there is considerable light from this heap, and that villagers in adjacent villages find it a little incomprehensible that they should be subject to a black-out, when there is this glare in their neighbourhood?

Sir J. Anderson

This heap has been visited four or five times in the last year, the last visit being on 29th August, and, as I have said, at that time no flames were visible. It may be that a further fire has broken out and another special visit will be made.