Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the great difficulty experienced by the public in obtaining hand-lamps that conform to the specification BS/ARP 3, in accordance with the. Lighting (Restrictions) Order, 1940, and what action does he propose to take to increase the supply of such lamps and to reduce their price to the public; and whether, in view of the unsatisfactory character of the regulations relating to the use of electric torches by the public, he will furnish a suitable specification for electric torches to be available to the public at a low price?
§ Sir J. AndersonI think that the hon. Member may be under some misapprehension in this matter. The type of hand-lamp or hand-torch specified by the British Standard Specification BS/ARP 3 is a torch for use by air-raid precautions personnel. The Lighting (Restrictions) Order does not require the public to use a torch of that type, but permits any form of hand-lamp or hand-torch to be used provided that it is dimmed by two sheets of tissue paper or the equivalent, that the light is white, is directed downwards, and is extinguished on an air raid warning. The adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion for a specification for all hand-torches would entail the prohibition of the use of all existing torches which did not comply with the specification; and this is not a step which I should feel justified in taking, at any rate in present circumstances.