CIVIL DEFENCE (APPROPRIATION OF LANDS AND BUILDINGS) REGULATIONS, 1952 (Hansard, 27 October 1952)

§ THE EARL OF SELKIRK
My Lords, these regulations are made under the 1948 Civil Defence Act. Their effect is to include under the purposes laid down for the 1948 Act a slight extension of the purposes laid down under Section 62 of the 1939 Act—that is to say, the local authorities can carry out the purposes laid down in the 1948 Act by means of the powers which exist under the 1939 Act. That may sound rather complicated, but the position, to put it in as simple language as I can, is this. The local authorities are charged to set up certain civil defence centres, and in some cases, particularly in urban areas, they have difficulty in finding suitable sites or premises. It has been suggested—and it is proposed under these regulations to authorise such a step—that in some cases it will be necessary for the authorities to use open spaces or, to put it more accurately, the ground under the open spaces.
Many of these open spaces are held under restrictive titles. That means to say that no building can be put up on them, and it is expressly to permit the placing of civil defence centres under such open spaces that these regulations are being put to your Lordships. I should add, in case any noble Lord raises the point, that it is obviously in the interests of the local authority to see that these powers are not misused. 995 Moreover, every use of the powers will require the confirmation of the Secretary of State, who has also undertaken to consult with the Minister of Housing and Local Government. In these circumstances, and because we do require these civil defence centres, I ask your Lordships to approve these regulations.

LORD STRABOLGI
My Lords, I should like to ask the noble Earl a question—and I must apologise for the fact that, although I am an old member of the Special Orders Committee, I was prevented from being present when this matter came before the Committee. I hope, nevertheless, that the noble Earl will not mind my asking these questions. First, do these regulations apply to London, and particularly do they apply to the Royal Parks? Do these powers enable the authorities to dig in the Royal Parks in London? Secondly, has there been any examination of the suggestion, which has been frequently raised in this House, for the building of underground car parks? The underground caverns would serve the double purpose of relieving some of the congestion in parking areas, by putting cars underground, and would make excellent air raid shelters or civil defence headquarters, and would serve other purposes of that kind. Has that matter been examined? The Government have always said they were looking into it. Is there anything to report?

§ THE EARL OF SELKIRK
My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for the questions he has raised. I am anxious to make my answers as clear as possible. This does not apply to Royal Parks. It applies only to open spaces which belong to, or are leased by, local authorities. In regard to the question of car parks, I am sure the point will be borne in mind, but, so far as the present intention is concerned, it does not arise. A civil defence centre is really too small a building to permit of the sort of car park which I think the noble Lord has in mind. If the scheme is extended, the point will certainly be borne in mind, hut, as I say, 996 I do not think it is possible, in present circumstances, to say that the sort of buildings contemplated would be of any use for that purpose.

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, did I understand the noble Earl to say that the local authorities have been consulted about these regulations; and have they agreed to them?

§ THE EARL OF SELKIRK
I did not say that the local authorities had been consulted, but I am quite sure that they have, because it is on their recommendation that these regulations are being made.

§ LORD SHEPHERD
I thank the noble Earl.