HC Deb 16 October 1941 vol 374 cc1482-4
33. Mr. Thorne

asked the Home Secretary whether he has had tests made, and can give any information, as to the iron-bolted arch air-raid shelter made by the Stanton Iron Works Company, Nottingham; what is the cost of making it; and how many people it will shelter?

Mr. H. Morrison

I understand that the company manufactures more than one type of bolted arch shelter and it has not been possible definitely to identify that to which reference is made. The testing of shelters for the purpose of official approval of design is limited to anti-debris indoor shelters. No shelter of this type has been submitted by the company for test.

39. Mr. David Adams

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that dormitory air-raid shelters in all parts of the country are now adequately provided with canteens and medical posts; and what is he doing to remedy the conditions in an underground shelter in a Northern city, which even when occupied by thousands of women and children, in conditions of damp and discomfort, is provided with only one or two nurses and with no canteen arrangements or medical post?

Mr. E. Brown

Substantial improvements have been made in dormitory air-raid shelters throughout the country. Progress is continuing but shortage of materials and labour has unfortunately prevented complete provision to the standards I have laid down. Canteens are available in over 2,000 shelters in the London Region. Schemes have been agreed with 90 local authorities in provincial vulnerable areas, and in many cases the canteens have already been provided. In the London Region 257 medical aid posts have been set up, and over 100 in the provinces. Plans have been made for setting-up further posts should the dormitory shelter population increase.

The shelter to which my hon. Friend refers in the second part of the Question is a popular but not very satisfactory one, notwithstanding that much money, time and labour have been devoted to improving it. Its construction and dimensions make a fixed medical aid post or a fixed canteen impracticable, but the local authority have made arrangements whereby nurses visit the shelter nightly, doctors are on call near each of its seven entrances, and a mobile canteen is ready for service at short notice. I believe that the local authority are doing the best they can having regard to the exceptional circumstances, but if my hon. Friend has any practical suggestions for improvement, I shall be glad to consider them.

Mr. Adams

Will the right hon. Gentleman look further into this particular case, because it is clearly one in which remedies could be applied?

Mr. Brown

As my hon. Friend knows, I myself have visited the shelter, and I can say that it is causing as much worry and correspondence to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security as anything else in the country. It presents a very difficult problem from the point of view which he and I have in common.

Mr. Adams

Is the right hon. Gentleman abandoning the case because it is difficult?

Mr. Brown

Not at all. I have already told my hon. Friend that I would be very glad to receive any suggestions.