§ 32. Mr. George Hallasked the Lord Privy Seal the number and names of any voluntary organisations set up in Wales for air-raid precautions work; whether he will give the names of the principal officers of these organisations; and whether they are working under the control of the local authorities?
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Sir John Anderson)I have not been able, in the short time available, to obtain full information in answer to the hon. Member's question. Apart from any purely local organisations, the only voluntary association set up specifically for air-raid precautions purposes which is known to the- Department to be operating in Wales is the Women's Voluntary Services. The regional organiser of Women's Voluntary Services for Wales is Miss E. M. Owen. This organisation is not under the control of local authorities but works in close co-operation with them.
§ 33. Mr. Hallasked the Lord Privy Seal the proposed organisation for air-raid precautions purposes in Wales; whether separate regions are to be set up; and whether he will give the number of regions and the names of the counties in each region?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe details are now being worked out, and I regret that at the moment I am not in a position to give a specific answer.
§ Mr. HallWill the right hon. Gentleman see, in setting up the regions, that Wales is made a separate region for this purpose?
§ Sir J. AndersonThat suggestion will certainly be borne in mind.
§ 35. Captain Pluggeasked the Lord Privy Seal the names of those local authorities who have not hitherto submitted to his Department any air-raid precautions 285 scheme as requested to do so; and what steps are taken in such cases to accelerate progress?
§ Sir J. AndersonAs regards general air-raid precautions schemes, the procedure arranged with local authorities is that the various parts of a complete scheme should be submitted when ready, without awaiting the completion of a formal scheme. On this procedure parts of schemes have been submitted by the great majority of the authorities concerned, and it is known that other authorities will be submitting parts of their schemes in the near future. The inspectors of the Department are in touch with all local authorities to help them to expedite their schemes. As regards air-raid fire precautions, schemes have been submitted by 618 local authorities in England and Wales and are outstanding in the case of one county borough, 78 boroughs, and 267 urban district councils. Periodical returns are called for from all scheme-making authorities, and the opportunity is specifically taken to remind them of their statutory obligations in this matter.
§ Sir Percy HarrisWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the setting up of a black list, after a reasonable lapse of time, of those authorities who have failed to present any scheme to his Department?
§ Sir J. AndersonI will take note of that suggestion.
§ Captain PluggeDoes the right hon. Gentleman recollect that the Home Secretary once stated in this House that he had not received schemes from several towns?
§ 37 and 38. Mr. Naylorasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) whether he will take steps to provide means for the collection and official storage of gas-masks in densely populated areas;
(2) what steps he proposes to take for checking the condition of gas-masks already issued to the civilian population, bearing in mind the difficulty of safe storage in working-class homes?
§ Sir J. AndersonOn the 28th October a circular was issued from the Home Office advising local authorities as to the steps which they should take to ensure 286 that respirators already issued are kept in good condition. Among other suggestions made in that circular, it was recommended that, where people had no facilities for keeping their respirators in their homes in conditions under which they would remain serviceable, the local authorities should arrange for the respirators to be returned to them for storage.
§ Mr. R. C. MorrisonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in the case of a number of authorities, the containers, which are an essential part of the respirators, have not yet been supplied?
§ Sir J. AndersonThey are in process of being issued as rapidly as possible.
§ Sir J. NallDoes not my right hon. Friend realise that a great proportion of these respirators are already unserviceable through not being properly looked after; and is it not ludicrous to leave them in the possession of individuals?
§ Sir J. AndersonIt seems to me that, if they are unserviceable, no harm is done by leaving them there.
§ Mr. ThorneWill they all undergo proper preparation before they are required?
§ Mr. PetherickWould it not be advisable to call them all in?
§ 39. Sir Adrian Baillieasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that many young persons, especially girls, who are anxious to volunteer for air-raid precautions work have not signed on because, in the event of an emergency, they would still be dependent upon paid work for their maintenance and are not certain whether, in such event, their services in the air-raid precautions scheme would be paid for or be of such a nature as to prevent them from continuing to earn their living in other occupations; and whether he will endeavour to make this point clear at the earliest opportunity?
§ Sir J. AndersonYes, Sir; and I hope very soon to be in a position to make the situation clearer.
§ 40. Mr. Duncanasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will immediately inform local authorities that they should revet those trenches which are suitable with concrete or steel and cover them with suitable materials so as to restore the amenities of the districts?
§ Sir J. AndersonAs was stated in the course of the Debate on Thursday last, it is intended that trenches which have been properly sited should be completed, covered and given a permanent structure. Detailed suggestions as to methods of construction will be issued in the near future.
41. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the cost of the provision of gas-masks for the use of the civilian population?
§ Sir J. AndersonApproximately £5,000,000.
§ Mr. MabaneIs a further supply being manufactured?
§ Sir J. AndersonManufacture is proceeding continuously.