HC Deb 02 July 1940 vol 362 cc659-61
39. Mr. Simmonds

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there is a widespread desire among the workers in war industries to be allowed to remain at work during periods of air-raid warning until local danger appears imminent; and whether he will, under proper safeguards, arrange for such continued work to be permitted?

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir John Anderson)

Yes, Sir; and it is the considered view of the Government that, in order to defeat any efforts by the enemy to dislocate production in our war industries, workers engaged in war production should be encouraged, so far as their local conditions allow, to continue at work after a public air-raid warning, until it is clear that an enemy attack is actually imminent in their neighbourhood. I should like to take this opportunity of explaining, in view of misconceptions that seem to have arisen in certain quarters, that the position in regard to the giving of public air-raid warnings remains in substance as stated on 25th October last by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, then Secretary of State for Air. My right hon. Friend then made it clear that the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter Command, must, in practice, exercise a discretion, in order to avoid unnecessary and undue interference with civil life, and that it must therefore happen on occasion, and should be accepted as a matter of course, that attack on a limited scale may develop over an area in which no previous warning has been given. This discretion must continue to be exercised, in the light of conditions as they may develop, by the Commander-in-Chief in whose judgment, as my right hon. Friend said, His Majesty's Government have complete confidence.

Mr. Simmonds

Will my right hon. Friend therefore see that an instruction is immediately issued, so that employers of labour may have direct direction from the Government to continue work during a period of air-raid warning, because that is most essential?

Sir J. Anderson

I assume that this matter will be taken up by my right hon. Friend who is in charge of the Supply Department.

Mr. Lawson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain arrangements have been made in many cases between employers of labour and workmen's organisations, and will he see that they are now overridden?

Sir J. Anderson

I assume that the matter will be handled in that way, because conditions differ in different factories.

Mr. Stokes

Will the right hon. Gentleman constantly bear in mind that loss of hours of sleep is at least as important as loss of hours of work?

Sir J. Anderson

Yes, Sir, that fact is taken into account, and is implicit in my reference to undue and unnecessary interference with civil life.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Would it not be wiser to assume that anti-aircraft fire in the vicinity would be a signal?

Sir J. Anderson

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will look at my answer.