§ 73. Sir J. Mellorasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the delay and confusion which would be caused to air-raid precautions services in an emergency owing to many houses in surburban districts being named but not numbered, he will request the appropriate local authorities to take steps to secure that all houses shall be numbered?
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Sir John Anderson)Powers to require the numbering of houses are available to urban local authorities under the general law. The publicity given to the point by my hon. Friend's question will, no doubt, remind authorities who have not used them of their powers, and I do not consider that there is any need at present for me to bring the matter more directly to the notice of local authorities generally.
§ Captain StricklandHas it been considered advisable to make this numbering of houses compulsory rather than at the request of the Ministry, particularly in 1347 view of the difficulty in discerning some of them, and will the right hon. Gentleman consider making it compulsory for street names to be more legible than they are at present?
§ Sir J. MellorWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Postmaster-General in order to see whether it would not be in the interests of both Departments?
§ Sir J. AndersonI will look into the matter further.
§ 74. Mr. Kirbyasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, having in mind the great importance of the city of Liverpool in time of war and the necessity to protect its population engaged on work of national importance, he will, when considering air-raid precautions schemes in the city, consult the Minister of Health, the Minister of Transport, and the Liverpool City Council, as to the desirability of reviving the Everton tunnel scheme which, if proceeded with, would greatly relieve the city's traffic problem, provide much-needed employment and, at the same time, provide a perfect bomb-proof shelter capable of protecting many thousands of persons in a thickly populated area of the city?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe problem of air-raid shelters is one which must be considered as a whole. This problem is now under close review and, until the general policy has been settled, I should prefer not to express an opinion on the desirability of any particular scheme.
§ Mr. KirbyWill the right hon. Gentleman take note of the latter part of my question in which I ask for consideration of the matter in conjunction with the Ministries of Transport and Health, because it affects not only air-raid precautions but the traffic-system industry and other matters arising in the execution of the work?
§ Sir J. AndersonAs soon as the general policy has been settled, I shall certainly be prepared to consider this particular project in consultation with the other Departments concerned.
§ Mr. BellengerWhen will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a decision on the general policy?
§ Sir J. AndersonI recognise the great urgency and importance of the matter, and I hope that a decision will be come to very soon indeed.
§ 75. Mr. Loganasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will furnish the fullest statistics relating to the city of Liverpool in regard to the requirements and response of volunteers for the purposes of air-raid precautions and other services?
§ Sir J. AndersonMy approximate estimate of the personnel required in Liverpool is 12,500 men and 6,500 women for air-raid general precautions and 4,000 men for the emergency fire service. My information regarding the response of volunteers is, of course, derived from the City Council, from whose last statement I learn that over 18,000 men and over 12,000 women have volunteered for the general precautions services and nearly 1,300 for the fire services.
§ Mr. LoganHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the circular issued by the Liverpool City Council in regard to this matter to those responsible for the efficiency of air-raid precautions in the city?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe hon. Gentleman will gather from my reply that there is no deficiency in numbers in Liverpool, except in regard to the fire services.
§ Mr. R. GibsonAre the figures proportionate to the population, has the size of the city been taken into account, and would the figures be proportionate for any other seaport?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe initiative rests with the local authority, who, presumably, take all these matters into account.