§ 64. Sir I. Alberyasked the Home Secretary what instructions have been given to the police and air-raid wardens with regard to judging the adequacy of the black-out as applied to the windows of private dwelling-houses?
§ Mr. MabaneThe Lighting Order requires that lights in private dwelling-houses must be completely obscured so as to be altogether invisible from outside. The instructions given to the police are that, while every effort should be made to secure complete obscuration, they should exercise a reasonable discretion in enforcing the requirements by proceedings in the court. Air-raid wardens have no power to enforce the Order, but they co-operate with the police by local arrangement.
§ Sir I. AlberyIs my hon. Friend aware that this duty is carried out with a great deal of differentiation? In some districts it is very lax and in others it is severe to the point of irritation. Whereas at two yards distance a black-out may not be complete, at 10 yards the same precautions may give complete black-out.
§ Mr. MabaneI am aware that there are differences in the way in which the matter is carried out, but I think that in general the police and wardens act with great discretion in this matter. They do not prosecute without warning being given or unless there is some flagrant breach.
§ Sir W. DavisonWill my hon. Friend get into touch with his colleague the Secretary of State for War, as while the lights of Army vehicles generally are shaded satisfactorily, a large number of them on main roads round London show bright lights at night? I have had to stop a number myself.
§ Mr. MabaneWill my hon. Friend put that Question down?
§ Sir I. AlberyThere is no complaint about the desire of the police to carry out this duty efficiently and properly; it is simply that they do not seem to have had sufficient instructions as to what ought to be the degree of the black-out.
§ Mr. MabaneThey have had full instructions, and if my hon. Friend would care to see them, I will let him have a copy.