HC Deb 28 October 1937 vol 328 cc233-5
27. Sir John Mellor

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received from the representative associations of local authorities any communication with regard to his statement sent to them on 13th October outlining the Government's proposals for the finance of air raid precautions?

Sir S. Hoare

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I met representatives of the local authorities' associations on the 26th instant, and arrangements have been made for further discussion on certain points.

28. Mr. Cluse

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the difficulty of providing gas-proof rooms in private houses or workmen's dwellings in densely populated areas, he has explored the possibility of utilising the existing underground railway tubes as gas-proof shelters; and, if so, will he inform the House as to his attitude on the matter?

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

It is not anticipated that there will normally be material difficulty in gas-proofing rooms in private houses. On the other hand, it is by no means certain that effective arrangements can be made for gas-proofing underground railways, and even if the difficulties in this respect can be overcome, there would still be a risk of flooding from water and sewage if any of the mains running through the stations were hit. After close examination of all the relevant factors, it is considered that the underground railways are not suitable for use as public refuges.

33. Sir Irving Albery

asked the Home Secretary whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to introduce some form of licence, with a view to controlling firms and persons offering goods and services to the public for protection against gas attack?

Mr. Lloyd

No restrictions on the sale of anti-gas equipment are at present in existence or in contemplation. In order however to encourage the production of adequate means of protection, a procedure exists whereby manufacturers of respirators and air-filtration devices may be licensed to affix to their products a mark certifying that the articles have been tested by the Home Office and conform to a specified standard of performance. The Home Office is further prepared to furnish inquirers with references to the specifications of the standard protective garments in use, with a list of manufacturers from whom they may be obtained.

Sir I. Albery

May I ask whether the Government desire to encourage firms and private individuals to adopt measures of protection, and, if so, does my hon. Friend consider that the machinery he has enumerated is a sufficient protection against acquiring ineffective material? Will he consider that?

Mr. Lloyd

I appreciate my hon. Friend's anxiety that no inefficient material should be freely available to the public, but there are great practical difficulties in preventing that. I would like to discuss the matter further with my hon. Friend.