§ 12. Mr. Simmondsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether there is in his Ministry a department appropriately staffed and responsible that all new buildings shall be constructed as far as possible in accordance with the lessons learned from hostile air attack?
§ Mr. HicksThe Department of the Ministry responsible for the design and construction of new buildings is furnished with all information on the effects of hostile air attack, and steps are taken to ensure that provision is made for suitable air-raid precautions in all building schemes undertaken by the Ministry.
§ Mr. SimmondsIs my hon. Friend quite satisfied that the Minister has power to see that those who are constructing these buildings carry out the recommendations of the Department?
§ Mr. HicksThat is another question. The buildings that come under the control of the Ministry of Works and Buildings are the only ones for which I am able to answer, and I have given the answer that in each case provision is made for suitable precautions.
§ Mr. SimmondsDoes the Minister mean to say that all other buildings are being put up in accordance with designs of the pre-war standard?
§ Mr. SimmondsIs the Minister aware that this is a very serious matter?