HC Deb 13 July 1944 vol 401 cc1878-9
28. Captain Plugge

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that in all small and one-man factories sufficient air-raid shelter accommodation is provided for all employees.

Mr. H. Morrison

The statutory obligation to provide shelter in factories extends only to those in which more than 50 per- sons are employed and which are situated in areas specified under the Civil Defence Act, 1939. Many occupiers of small factories which are not subject to this statutory obligation have voluntarily provided shelter for their workpeople, but I am afraid I cannot say what proportion the number of these cases bears to the total number of factories concerned.

Captain Plugge

Is my right hon. Friend's Department prepared to give every assistance, including financial assistance, to small factories to erect shelters, or to improve their shelter arrangements in view of the emergency?

Mr. Morrison

I have no power to do so under the law. As to the supply of labour and materials, the repair of the homes of the people must come first. My impression is that there is no great problem about this.

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