HC Deb 13 November 1940 vol 365 c1721W
Mr. Simmonds

asked the Home Secretary what recommendations he has made to local authorities with regard to heating in public shelters; and what rate of grant he makes towards the expenditure involved?

Miss Wilkinson

The heating of shelters is a very difficult problem. Tragedies have already occurred through the use of stoves giving off carbon monoxide fumes. In the larger shelters when fully occupied the difficulty is to keep the temperature down to a tolerable level. In the smaller shelters experiments in various types of safe heating are being conducted as rapidly as possible in the London region and elsewhere. No general recommendations can be issued at present.

Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Home Secretary what percentage of the population it is intended to cover by constructing deep shelters in Manchester; what is the estimated cost; and what date it is expected they will be completed bearing in mind the shortage of labour and materials?

Mr. H. Morrison

No proposals have, so far as I am aware, been put forward by the City Council for the construction of deep shelters.