§ 67. Mr. P. A. HARRISasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any independent technical inquiry has been made as to air-raid damage Caused in January at the printing works of a weekly journal, where many casualties resulted, other than, any inquiry on behalf of the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police; whether there were concrete floors in this building over the basement in which the casualties occurred; if so, whether these floors had been pierced by the bomb that was dropped from enemy aircraft or whether the bomb fell just outside the building and did not pierce any of the concrete floors; whether the criticisms that have been made against the police regarding the selection of these premises as an air-raid shelter were, accordingly, un justified, and likewise the stricture against the utility of concrete floors as affording a reasonable shelter against dud shells, incendiary bombs, and explosive bombs of moderate size used in air-raid attacks; and whether he will state if he knows of any case in the Metropolis where an enemy bomb of any description has so far pierced three or four concrete floors, so that the public may know if a. reasonable amount of shelter may be expected where they are protected by a number of concrete or reinforced concrete floors?
§ Mr. BRACEI understand that inquiry has been made by technical experts appointed by the Committee of Scientific and Industrial Research. The building had concrete floors over the basement, none of which were pierced by the bomb, which entered the building by a pavement light. The occurrence, therefore, affords no reason for doubting the utility of concrete floors as affording reasonable protection against blind shells, incendiary bombs, and explosive bombs of small size. I would remind the hon. Member that the buildings available as air-raid shelters are not classified as bomb-proof, but they are 1229 quite suitable for the purpose for which they are primarily intended, namely, to afford shelter against splinters of bombs, shells, etc., for use by persons who happen to be in the open when the raid takes place.