§ 49. Mr. Dayasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the results of the conversations which have taken place between the commercial and professional bodies concerned in the vulnerability of gasometers to attack from the air, and the damage which might be caused in war time?
§ Mr. CrossI am not clear what conversations the hon. Member has in mind, but gas undertakings have this and other questions relating to the protection of gas works under consideration in consultation with the Departments concerned. The action that can be appropriately taken varies, of course, in particular cases.
§ Mr. DayIs it proposed to refer this matter to a committee of persons who are interested in the subject?
§ 71. Mr. Banfieldasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that owing to delays by the county council and by his Department the air-raid precautions services in the non-county boroughs of South Staffordshire are impeded and that the responsible officers are concerned about the delay, much of which they declare is 1139 preventable; and will he consider granting autonomy for air-raid precautions purposes to the non-county boroughs so that they may proceed with their work more quickly than hitherto?
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Sir John Anderson)As a result of discussions which have recently taken place, I hope that I may expect a material improvement in the rate of progress in this area. A policy of multiplying the number of separate scheme-making authorities is open to various objections of principle, and I am not satisfied that it would necessarily provide a solution of this particular problem.
§ Mr. BanfieldIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is indeed very serious delay, and that these non-county boroughs are very seriously disturbed about it, that men and women are anxious to do their duty and are not getting a chance to do it; and will he do something at any rate to give those people who want to do the job a chance of doing it?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have a good deal of sympathy with some of the small authorities. I am sure that the correct policy, apart from very special circumstances, is to organise on the basis of the larger units and to rely on the county councils concerned to give adequate consideration to the interests of the individual country districts.
§ Mr. BanfieldBut will the right hon. Gentleman really do something to stir up the Staffordshire County Council? The trouble lies there, as the Minister must know, and we are really concerned in the localities at the inaction of the county council.
§ Sir J. AndersonThe hon. Member cannot have heard me when I said that discussions have recently taken place as a result of which I hope there will be an improvement in the position.