HC Deb 27 April 1944 vol 399 cc915-6
22. Major Procter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the loss of health, waste of fuel and reduction of output caused by the continuance of blackout conditions during daylight hours; and if he will consult experts with a view to solving the problems of camouflage and light leakage so that healthful conditions of factory work may be restored.

Mr. H. Morrison

It is the Government policy to replace permanent by removable blackout as early as possible. No point of technical difficulty arises and progress depends solely on the availability of materials and labour. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Production has the matter in hand.

Major Procter

Would the right hon. Gentleman see that as far as Lancashire is concerned many private cotton firms have already solved the problem involved; would he proceed forthwith to get war production factories to follow their example, which in many cases means simply cleaning paint from windows; and would he also try to get as much sunlight as possible into factories and so give proper working conditions to men who for four years have been working under very bad conditions?

Mr. Morrison

The hon. Member will appreciate that my responsibility is in relation to policy, in which I am doing my best. There are difficulties about material and labour, but I will see that the point to which he has drawn attention is conveyed to the Minister of Production.