HC Deb 01 December 1938 vol 342 cc610-3W
Mr. Lipson

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that there is a shortage of sets of respirators for fitting and instructional purposes in the county of Gloucester; that requests for further supplies have been refused; and will he give the reason for this refusal and take steps to see that an adequate supply is made available forthwith?

Sir J. Anderson

The issue to the county of Gloucester of additional respirators and other protective equipment for instructional purposes has recently been authorised and delivery is being made immediately. I am told that no requests have been refused.

Mr. Ede

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the length of fire-hose first supplied for air-raid precautions purposes to the Leatherhead Urban District Council; the date on which it was supplied; and what happened to it?

Sir J. Anderson

Eight 100 foot lengths of delivery hose were supplied to Leather-head in July last. On their being tested after delivery certain defects appeared which necessitated their return to the makers for repairs. These have been effected and instructions have been given for the hose to be returned to Leather-head.

Mr. Sorensen

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any census has been prepared, or will be prepared, and taken of large country mansions which could be adapted and made suitable for the accommodation of children evacuated from London and other congested areas in a time of national emergency?

Sir J. Anderson

No such census has been prepared, but the existence of accommodation of the type to which the hon. Member refers will be taken into account in the survey of accommodation which will be necessary for the purpose of the more detailed plans which are now being worked out.

Mr. Parker

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many of the 66 applications made by borough or urban district councils for power to prepare and submit their own air-raid precautions schemes have been granted; and what are the names of these authorities?

Sir J. Anderson

Fourteen applications have been granted. The following are the names of the authorities concerned:

Bedfordshire:

  • Luton Borough Council.

Cambridgeshire:

  • Cambridge Borough Council.

Derbyshire:

  • Chesterfield Borough Council.

Devonshire:

  • Brixham Urban District Council.
  • Paignton Urban District Council.
  • Torquay Borough Council.

Dorsetshire:

  • Poole Borough Council.

Hampshire:

  • Christchurch Borough Council.

Norfolk:

  • King's Lynn Borough Council.

Peterborough, Soke of:

  • Peterborough Borough Council.

Sussex, West:

  • Worthing Borough Council.

Wiltshire:

  • New Sarum (Salisbury) Borough Council.
  • Swindon Borough Council.

Worcestershire:

  • Oldbury Borough Council.

Mr. Groves

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the houses of the working people generally are not fitted with dark blinds; and whether his Department has experimented with any form of electric lighting which in a state of emergency would give the necessary degree of light for domestic reasons but not so diffuse light as to contravene the then necessary Defence regulations?

Sir J. Anderson

Experiments have been made but they show that in the circumstances indicated by the hon. Member there is no practicable alternative to the screening of windows. The handbook entitled "The Protection of Your Home against Air Raids" suggests various alternatives to the provision of dark blinds, for the screening of windows.

Mr. D. M. Adams

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the elementary school children of East London during the recent crisis were to be sent into an area of Essex near the Thames Estuary while the authority of Essex was arranging to evacuate its own children from the same area on the grounds of the dangers; and will he, in the event of a further crisis, cause arrangements to be made to evacuate the East London children to a safer destination?

Sir J. Anderson

I am aware that in the arrangements which were made as a matter of emergency there was some overlap between those made by the Government and others made by the local authorities. The plans are now being worked out in more detail and consideration will be given to the point raised by the hon. Member.