§ Mr. Stephenasked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to accede to the request of the Glasgow local authority to allow a relaxation of the black-out in the lighting of Glasgow streets, since such lights can be extinguished at a moment's notice, especially as the ironworks known as Dixon's Blazes in the city can be seen any evening for many miles?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have received no such request from the Corporation of Glasgow, though certain representations to this effect were made to my Department 1421W a short time ago by a deputation of Councillors representing the Transport and Lighting Departments of the Corporation. The suggestion made in various quarters that normal street lighting should be allowed in those cases where it can be controlled centrally, subject to its being extinguished on receipt of an air-raid warning, has been carefully considered by the Government; but it has had to be rejected on the ground that considerations of safety would demand that the lighting should be extinguished on the receipt of the preliminary air-raid warning, which would thereby be converted into a public warning. As regards the last part of the question, active steps are being taken to screen the glare from the ironworks known as Dixon's Blazes.
Mr. Jenkinsasked the Home Secretary what consultations have taken place with the trade unions with reference to the lighting restrictions at mines, railways and other industries?
§ Sir J. AndersonIndustries requiring some form of external lighting for the conduct of work of national importance have received all possible assistance from my Department in applying the lighting restrictions to their particular problems. The Department has proceeded by drawing up, in consultation with representatives of the industry and other Government Departments concerned, a scheme for each industry indicating in general how the restrictions could best be met. The detailed application of each scheme is a matter for the industry and any special difficulties raised by the men concerned are considered in conjunction with their representatives if the matter is brought to my notice through them. The wider question of the effect of these restrictions on industry in general is to be discussed at a meeting which I am holding this week with representatives of employers and trade unions.
Mr. Jenkinsasked the Home Secretary whether he has now reviewed the question of the heavy increase of street and highways accidents; and whether it is now intended to effect a modification in the lighting restrictions?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe existing restrictions on street lighting have been carefully reviewed by the Government, but it has not been found practicable to authorise any further relaxations beyond those referred1422W to by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport in his statement last week.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the new black-out lamp invented by the Liverpool city electrical engineer?
§ Sir J. AndersonAccording to information supplied by the city electrical engineer, the illumination provided on the ground by this system of lighting is of much the same intensity as that used for the purpose of certain experiments recently undertaken by my direction and found then to be unsuitable from the point of view of the concealment of objectives from aircraft. I am, however, making further investigations into this experiment at Liverpool.