§ 46. Major Procterasked the Minister of Production what steps he is taking to remove permanent black-out conditions in factories and what results are being achieved; whether the permanent blackout will be removed from all factories in Lancashire before the war is over; and whether all the factories in a town of which he has been informed, engaged in essential work, will be able in the near future to work in daylight conditions.
§ The Minister of Production (Mr. Lyttelton)In collaboration with my colleagues in the Departments concerned, I am taking steps to facilitate the substitution of removable for permanent black-out in factories throughout the country so far as labour and materials are available. I am informed that in Lancashire removable black-out is now installed in about 95 per cent. of the larger factories engaged in essential production and is being installed in another 2 per cent. As regards the town referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, my information is that removable blackout has been installed in 99 per cent. of such factories. My hon. and gallant Friend will, of course, understand that where removable black-out has been installed in a factory, this does not mean 1977 that the whole of the glass is so fitted. It is sometimes difficult, for technical reasons, to make use of removable blackout on a large scale in a particular factory. So long therefore as there is a risk of air raids, it will in those cases be impracticable to resume full daylight working.
§ Major ProcterDo I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that out of 7,000 factories in Lancashire 6,500 are working under conditions of natural light?
§ Mr. LytteltonI have not done the arithmetic but I repeat that 95 per cent. of the larger factories have removable black-out.
§ Sir H. WilliamsHow many bombs have not been dropped in Lancashire?
§ Mr. ThorneWill the right hon. Gentleman do away with the black-out altogether between now and Christmas?