§ 18. Sir William Davisonasked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a 2139 position to make any statement as to the grant of financial assistance by the Government to public utility undertakings in respect of air raid precautions plans?
§ Sir S. HoareThe Government have been considering the position of certain essential public utility services, the continued functioning of which is essential in war-time. The exceptional position of the industries concerned places upon them a special responsibility for doing their utmost to ensure continuity of service in all circumstances, including those of war. These industries will have to incur considerable expenditure on the measures necessary to ensure continued functioning in war-time; and the Government have accepted the principle of a contribution towards expenditure of this nature on precautions additional to those falling on industry generally. The actual details of any such arrangement must be worked out in close consultation with the undertakings concerned. These consultations will begin as early as practicable in the New Year.
§ Sir W. DavisonCan my right hon. Friend inform me whether claims for connecting up services and other such matters will be made direct to his Department, or whether they will be made through the local authorities in the districts in which the particular services are?
§ Sir S. HoareMy Department will be communicating with the various public utility services.
§ Mr. AttleeWhat are the particular categories of public utilities to which the right hon. Gentleman referred in his reply?
§ Sir S. HoareI had better have notice of that question, but, speaking generally, water, gas, electricity and certain kinds of transport.
§ Mr. E. SmithIn view of the fact that a certain number of public utility undertakings may be private enterprise, when details are being worked out will the Home Secretary also consider the interests of relatively small tradesmen, owner-occupiers and people of that sort?
§ Sir S. HoareI made clear in my answer that the public utility services will have to undertake the ordinary obligations undertaken by any ordinary factory or employer. The question deals with the 2140 additional duties that will be imposed upon them as a result of their rather special position.