HC Deb 28 September 1939 vol 351 cc1470-1
39. Mr. Poole

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider authorising a free supply of necessary Material to anyone resident in an evacuation or a neutral area who has not yet been supplied with an Anderson shelter and who is willing to construct a shelter to the satisfaction of the local authority in which they live?

Sir J. Anderson

This principle is already recognised in Section 26 of the Civil Defence Act. Where, however, the materials are not wholly standardised I think it is better that the local authorities should retain in their own hands the responsibility for their erection.

Mr. Poole

Am I to take it that there is power given to local authorities to allow the cost of materials to people like working miners who are in a position to build their own shelters, and thus save the cost of an Anderson shelter?

Sir J. Anderson

Certainly, in regard to the standardised shelter.

58. Mr. Ridley

asked the Home Secretary how many Anderson shelters have now been supplied to those people entitled to have them free; how many more are required; and when it is expected that delivery will be completed?

Sir J. Anderson

The number of steel shelters allocated to householders up to yesterday is 1,303,400. Production and distribution are proceeding as rapidly as possible but I am afraid I cannot at present give any definite date by which the full programme will be completed.

64. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Home Secretary the number of Anderson shelters that have been supplied to the Wands-worth Borough Council and the number that have been allotted by the council to each of the five parliamentary areas; the number of public shelters erected; and the number of persons they will accommodate?

Sir J. Anderson

So far as I have been able to ascertain in the time available the position is as follows: — 19,788 steel shelters have been delivered in the borough of Wandsworth and of those 4,552 have gone to Putney, 3,326 to Wandsworth Central, 6,113 to Tooting, 3,789 to Streatham and 2,008 to Clapham. Public shelters are at present available for about 10,000 people, a number which is being rapidly increased by accelerated progress with the schemes for strengthening basements.