§ 36. Mr. Houghtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that residents in Fountain Street, Sowerby Bridge, have repeatedly asked for the removal of brick air raid shelters from the street on the ground that they are deteriorating, are unsightly, and are an obstruction and that the Sowerby Bridge Urban District Council wishes to have them demolished, he will now authorise their removal.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI am informed that these shelters have not deteriorated seriously and that they do not obstruct the road to any extent. Whilst I appreciate that they must be an eyesore, I cannot regard this as a sufficient justification for demolition at the present time.
§ Mr. HoughtonCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman think of any conceivable use for these decaying and unsightly shelters of the last war? How much longer are my constituents to contemplate the futility of this form of Civil Defence in atomic warfare?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI do not accept the hon. Gentleman's view that this is futile, nor do I accept that the shelters are not in a fit state at the moment. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the whole policy of Civil Defence is under review, and this matter of shelters is among those being reviewed.