HC Deb 29 June 1950 vol 476 cc2430-1
5. Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has ordered that, in general, air-raid shelters in the gardens of houses may not be demolished.

Mr. Ede

The policy of His Majesty's Government, as embodied in the Civil Defence Act, 1948, is to build up our Civil Defence resources, and it would be imprudent and inconsistent with that policy to demolish existing shelters.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

Will the Home Secretary consider introducing a little flexibility into the prohibition on demolition of air-raid shelters, as there is a minority of cases where demolition would not reduce security and would be highly desirable?

Mr. Ede

There is this flexibility, that if the local medical officer of health says a shelter is injurious to the health of the people living in the surrounding property, permission can then be given for demolition.

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