HC Deb 12 November 1940 vol 365 cc1589-90
72. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Home Secretary whether he will not only encourage arrangements for rest periods in country areas for air-raid precautions workers or their temporary interchange as between those in heavily-bombed areas and those in less-troubled areas, but also for industrial and other workers subject to heavy strain; and whether he will consider any means of enabling these workers to secure periods of rest and recuperation away from their home areas, if not immediately, then for and from the 1941 spring when lighter shelters may be suitable?

Miss Wilkinson

As regards the Civil Defence workers, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Members for English Universities (Miss Rathbone) and Duddeston (Mr. Simmonds) on 24th October last. As regards industrial and other workers, the matter is one for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

Mr. Sorensen

Does the hon. Lady realise that the mere fact that this Question was accepted at the Table means that it must refer to her Department in some cases? Will the hon. Lady appreciate that numbers of industrial workers are just as much in need of rest and recuperation, after long hours of toil, as are air-raid precautions workers, and in view of the fact that we may be fighting in 1944, will the hon. Lady prepare plans for that year?

Miss Wilkinson

The first half of the Question, which refers to my Department, was answered in the first half of my answer, which dealt with previous replies to Questions on this matter. The second part of the Question, which concerns industrial matters, is entirely a matter for the Ministry of Labour.

Mr. Edmund Harvey

Can the hon. Lady inform the House whether any progress has been made with regard to lest billets for air-raid precautions workers?

Miss Wilkinson

Consideration has been going on, and by this I mean not consideration of the principle, which we have accepted, but consideration of the application of it. There are very real problems in this matter, some of them being due to the reluctance of the London workers themselves to take the rest periods which are offered unless they can go to their wives and families. We are making arrangements of that kind. We are very much in agreement with the principle.

Mr. Davidson

How many local authorities outside London have been consulted on this question by the hon. Lady's Department?

Miss Wilkinson

This Department is really not my Department, as I am dealing with the shelter problem. I cannot give the hon. Member an answer offhand, but the reason for the absence today of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security is that he is consulting local authorities on these matters.