HC Deb 06 July 1944 vol 401 cc1284-5
3. Sir Ralph Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under existing circumstances, he will consider the advantages of removing the painted areas on railway carriage windows and increasing the lighting on stations and at goods yards, thus reducing the rate of casualties during the coming winter and speeding up the traffic on the railways.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

By agreement with the Departments concerned the standards of lighting in railway carriages, in goods yards and on some railway stations have been substantially increased recently. I do not, however, consider the time has yet arrived when the painted areas on carriage windows can be removed.

Sir R. Glyn

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to reconsider this, in view of the overcrowding in trains, and the difficulty of people being able to read by day, and in view of the well-known fact that this light in trains does not assist the enemy in any way?

Mr. Morrison

Certainly I will reconsider it, because we are always reconsidering these matters. I have quite an open mind. I am, in fact, considering this in a wider aspect to which it is related.

Viscountess Astor

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the military authorities, and is it not true that some of them think it would have a very good psychological effect if we lifted the black-out, knowing perfectly well that the Germans will not be coming next winter?

Mr. Morrison

That is another question.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public are not going to regard with equanimity a continuance of the black-out at the same degree of intensity as that imposed last winter?

Mr. Morrison

That may be so, but the military authorities have to be consulted, including the Air Staff. I can only assure the House that I am thinking about it very seriously, and the sooner the nasty black-out can go the better I shall like it.

4. Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether further consideration may now be given to modifying the existing regulations for reduced lighting on vehicles thus reducing the risk of road accidents.

Mr. H. Morrison

Modifications in the regulations governing vehicle lights have been and will be made whenever possible.

8. Captain Gammans

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is prepared to make any relaxations in the black-out regulations for the coming winter.

Mr. H. Morrison

I am not yet in a position to say what further relaxations in the black-out may be possible next winter, but my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that the possibility of relaxation is never lost sight of.

Mr. Thorne

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the black-out regulations will be done away with between now and Christmas?

Mr. Morrison

My hon. Friend must not tempt me. I am considering this very carefully; it is being most carefully examined. My bias is in favour of relaxation, but I must examine the matter carefully in relation to the actual situation.

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

Will my right hon. Friend remember that flying bombs have no eyes, and that so far as they are concerned the public will benefit by the lifting of the black-out far more than they will lose?

Mr. Morrison

My right hon. Friend is fully right about that. If I am quite sure I have nothing other than flying bombs to consider, I say, "Let there be light."

Mr. Thorne

Are not flying bombs less dangerous than the old bombs?