HC Deb 14 March 1940 vol 358 cc1351-3
33. Sir Henry Morris-Jones

asked the Minister of Health whether any investigations are being made by his Department into the deleterious effect on the health of the people owing to lack of proper ventilation because of the black-out; and, if so, what is the result of this investigation?

Mr. Elliot

Attention is being paid to the effect on the health of the people, of abnormal conditions created by the war, of which the black-out is one, but no special investigations of the nature suggested have been undertaken.

Sir H. Morris-Jones

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear this aspect of the problem in mind, and is he aware that investigations have been made in some quarters which do show that health has been affected?

Mr. Elliot

I shall be glad to consider any evidence which the hon. Member has.

Major-General Sir Alfred Knox

Could not inspectors be sent round to open bedroom windows?

56. Sir H. Morris-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department have conducted any experiments to secure better ventilation in houses, factories, offices and public buildings during the black-out, and, if so, with what results?

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

Yes, Sir. Experiments have been carried out by my Department, and it is proposed to issue shortly a pamphlet on Factory Ventilation in the Black-out, and specifications of means of ventilation suitable for houses, offices and public buildings.

Sir H. Williams

Having regard to the fact that the Royal Air Force the other night were able to find the Unter den Linden in blacked-out Berlin, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman what advantage it is to have a black-out here?

Sir J. Anderson

That question has been dealt with effectively in Debate.

Sir Francis Fremantle

Does this apply to air-raid warden posts and so on, which are very badly ventilated in many cases?

Sir J. Anderson

Those have been attended to, for the most part.

Mr. Kirkwood

What is the use of a black-out in the West of Scotland when there are iron works blazing up every night? Why cannot I have an answer to that question?