§ 24. Sir Nicholas Grattan-Doyleasked the Home Secretary whether he is in a position to make a statement respecting the results of the visits of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to Berlin and Paris to examine the organisation of air-raid precautions in those centres?
§ Sir S. HoareI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander).
§ 25. Sir N. Grattan-Doyleasked the Home Secretary when it is proposed to issue the handbook for householders describing the precautions to be taken in the event of air raids?
§ Sir S. HoareAs stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for North Islington (Dr. Guest) on 3rd February, a supply of the book will be sent to local authorities, and distribution will begin in about three weeks when printing has been completed.
§ Colonel NathanWill the right hon. Gentleman furnish hon. Members with a copy of the handbook?
§ Sir S. HoareYes, Sir, I will see if it can be done.
§ Mr. MathersWill the handbook cantain information as to the responsibility for injury or any other happenings to voluntary workers under the scheme?
§ Sir S. HoareI think the hon. Member had better wait until the handbook is issued.
§ 30. Mr. Manderasked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to invite representatives of the German Government to visit London to inspect British air-raid precautions in return for the visit recently paid to Berlin by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State?
§ Sir S. HoareI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a supplementary question by him on Thursday last.
§ Mr. ManderWould it not be only fair that Field-Marshal Goering should have an opportunity of inspecting our air-raid precautions over here?
§ Sir S. HoareThat is a matter of individual opinion.
§ Mr. Herbert MorrisonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if Field-Marshal Goering comes to London there will be a row about it?
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that General Goering is soaked in blood and is regarded as a butcher?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder, order.
§ 31. Mr. Marcus Samuelasked the Home Secretary whether, in the case of the materials, such as adhesive tape, felt, etc., required for safeguarding private households and other establishments against aerial attack, he will follow the lines adopted for the provision of gas masks by placing the contracts for such materials on a national scale, giving preference where possible to factories in the depressed areas?
§ Sir S. HoareThe articles referred to will not be supplied by the Government, but should be purchased in the ordinary way by householders and other occupiers of buildings. In these circumstances the question of contracts on a national scale, as in the case of respirators, does not arise.
§ 40. Colonel Nathanasked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to arrange that the air raid precautions officers from the various local authority areas and his Department's air raid precautions inspectors shall meet together at regular intervals for the interchange of information in the light of experience and coordinating ideas and practice?
§ Sir S. HoareIn the course of day-today work there is already frequent contact between the officers of the Air-Raid Precautions Department and the local authorities, while the central training college which is about to be established will provide most valuable means for the interchange of information and ideas.
§ 41. Colonel Nathanasked the Home Secretary which local authorities have submitted general schemes as to air-raid precautions and which have submitted partial schemes, and, as regards both classes, the respect date of submission; and whether he will consider laying upon the Table of this House, at monthly or other suitable short intervals, a White Paper giving information as to the authorities by which general and partial schemes have been submitted, the date of submission, and the date of the definitive decision of the Department thereon?
§ Sir S. HoareAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to him on the 3rd instant. I will consider the suggestion made in the second part of the question.
§ Colonel NathanIs it to be understood, as regards the first part of the question, that no progress has been made?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir; progress is being made every day.
§ Colonel NathanIs it to be understood that no schemes have been submitted, despite the lapse of a week since the question was put?
§ Sir S. HoareThe hon. and gallant Member must not make that assumption.
§ Mr. R. C. MorrisonWill the right hon. Gentleman consider publishing the list of schemes held up in his Department, with which people have lodged schemes, and are unable to get a decision?
§ Sir S. HoareI think it is early, in view of the fact that the Act was put on the Statute Book only a few weeks ago, to take any decision of that kind.
§ 42. Colonel Nathanasked the Home Secretary whether the projected partial black-out and air-raid in the Metropolitan area will be partial as to the precautions but complete as to the area, or partial as to the area but complete as to the precautions, or partial as regards both the area and the precautions; and when he anticipates that it will be possible to arrange a practice black-out and air-raid in the Metropolitan area complete as to both precautions and area?
§ Sir S. HoareIt will be desirable at the appropriate time to have an air-raid 1241 precaution exercise in the London area, but I cannot say at present when it will be possible to carry it out or what form it will take.
§ Colonel NathanCan the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to when he is likely to be able to state that? Would it be helpful if I were to put down the question this day fortnight?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir. I cannot be precise on that point. We are at the moment receiving these schemes from the local authorities and others. As regards the further stage, I cannot give a more definite answer.