§ 13. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many air raid shelters built for and during the last war still remain in the City of Aberdeen; and what are his plans for their removal.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Lady Tweedsmuir)I understand that there are about 2,600 last war shelters left in the City of Aberdeen. Normally the removal of shelters at public expense is authorised only if they are structurally unsound, a danger to health or impeding approved development. However, in connection with the scheme for additional capital investment in development districts during this winter, my right hon. Friend has authorised the town council to remove before 31st March next some 500 shelters which do not come within any of these categories and whose potential value for civil defence is negligible.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister realise that air raid shelters, which were a valuable protection in the last war, would be quite useless in conditions of any unhappy future war? Will she, therefore, take steps to have the remaining ones removed?
§ Lady TweedsmuirNo, Sir, because some of the shelters are needed by some of the tenants or owner-occupiers for storage purposes. Some are still needed for civil defence purposes. To give general approval for the demolition of all the shelters would be far too costly.