HC Deb 28 September 1939 vol 351 cc1473-6
45. Mr. Lipson

asked the Home Secretary whether his regulations provide that the hotel proprietor or the occupier of a hotel room is liable for an infraction of the black-out regulations due entirely to the carelessness of the occupier?

Sir J. Anderson

The Lighting (Restrictions) Order was made under Regulation 24 of the Defence Regulations, 1939, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the proviso to paragraph (2) of that Regulation.

46. Mr. Lipson

asked the Home Secretary whether limited street lighting may be allowed in any town where it is possible to turn off all street lighting from a control switch immediately the necessity arises?

59. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Home Secretary whether consideration will be given to the possibility of restoring some measure of street lighting wherever such lighting can be extinguished at a moment's notice?

61. Miss Cazalet

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the present lighting system in Paris; and whether he will consider adopting a similar system in London?

Sir J. Anderson

In Paris the electric street lighting in the main thoroughfares is centrally controlled and could be extinguished at once when an air-raid warning was received. In this country only a very few towns have a system of street lighting so controlled that it could be extinguished at a moment's notice; and, even where this type of lighting is installed, I am not at present satisfied that the balance of advantage lies on the side of leaving the lights to be extinguished when a warning is received. The whole problem of lighting restriction is now, however, under review in the light of the knowledge gained during these first few weeks' experience of black-out conditions, and I hope to be in a position to make the results of this review known in the near future.

Mr. Lipson

Can my right hon. Friend say what possible disadvantage there can be in a town which has had the good sense to provide itself with a centrally-controlled switch for street lighting having its streets lighted and switching off the lighting when it gets an air-raid warning? What possible reason can there be against that?

Sir J. Anderson

I can assure my hon. Friend that there are weighty arguments that can be put forward against the lighting of particular limited areas in the centre of larger areas which are completely obscured. There are also arguments against plunging people suddenly into darkness at the precise moment when the air-raid warning is received. This is a matter on which there is something to be said on both sides. As I have said, the whole question is being now brought . under careful review.

Mr. T. Williams

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Barcelona and Valencia, where the main switch controlled the lighting of the town, this form of lighting proved very effective, reduced the loss of life on the streets to the absolute minimum, and that instead of thousands of people being responsible for putting out lights, only one person was responsible? Will he consider the matter from that point of view?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Lambert Ward

Would it not be possible for a small number of enemy aircraft to reach big industrial centres without any warning having been given, if they were flying sufficiently high?

47. Mr. Mander

asked the Home Secretary what is the present position with regard to lighting restrictions as affecting cupolas in iron foundries; to what extent schemes have been adopted for diminishing the glare; whether he is aware that where this has been done at considerable expense, local authorities have refused to permit night work; and whether he will consider whether the public safety permits the lighting restrictions coming into force 30 minutes after sunset, thus giving another fortnight under normal working conditions?

Sir J. Anderson

My Department have been in consultation with the British Cast Iron Research Association as to the most efficacious means of dealing with glare from cupolas in iron foundries. The Association have recently issued to all their members a memorandum dealing fully with the subject and inviting firms to put to them any special foundry conditions not covered by the memorandum. No case has been brought to my notice in which the police have prohibited night work at premises where effective provision for screening has been made. I have considered the suggestion made in the last part of the question, but I am advised that it would be undesirable, from the point of view of security, to delay the application of the lighting restrictions until 30 minutes after sunset.

Mr. Mander

If I draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to certain cases where the police have acted in this way, will he go into the matter?

Sir J. Anderson

Certainly.