HC Deb 30 November 1943 vol 395 c181
24. Lieut.-Colonel Heneage

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view of improving conditions under which A.T.S., especially telephonists, work in underground offices of the War Office departments; and is he satisfied that their health is not suffering from insufficient time for exercise and sleep?

Sir J. Grigg

It is necessary for A.T.S. auxiliaries to work in these underground offices but particular attention has been devoted to the conditions under which they do their important work. These conditions have been considerably improved in the course of the last year or so and I am glad to say that the health of these auxiliaries has proved to be better than the average for the A.T.S. generally. Further measures of improvement are now in hand.

Sir W. Davison

Cannot the ventilation of these underground offices be improved?

Sir J. Grigg

I understand that it has been very materially improved. I know that before the offices were occupied considerable tests by medical officers were undertaken.

Lieut.-Colonel Heneage

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in some cases there is not sufficient time for them to take exercise in the eight-hour period which is supposed to be available for sleeping and that much of the time is taken up in going to their billets?

Sir J. Grigg

The question of giving them more time off is one of the measures of improvement now in hand.