§ 10. Captain Cunningham-Reidasked the Home Secretary, in view of the fact that insurance companies encourage householders to have the water turned off when their premises are left empty, as shown by the circular which has been sent him, whether he will intimate to such companies that they would be contributing to the safety of the public by modifying the stipulation in the said circular?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonExperience has shown that serious waste may occur if water supplies are left on in empty premises. What is essential is that there should be adequate supplies of static water in all such premises, and it is proposed to require this in the Order shortly to be issued under the new paragraphs recently added to Defence Regulation 27.
§ 11. Captain Cunningham-Reidasked the Home Secretary whether in view of the fact that there are innumerable cases where owners of unoccupied houses have not given access to local authorities, and because of the urgency of this matter, in view of the likelihood of heavy air-raids in the near future, he will give powers to local authorities to make forcible entry into houses where access has not been given voluntarily?
§ Mr. MorrisonWide powers of entry by authorised persons for the purpose of extinguishing fires already exist. Other powers are given by a new paragraph recently added to Defence Regulation 27, under which an Order will shortly be issued.