HC Deb 24 January 1940 vol 356 c604W
Captain Medlicott

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in order to make available an additional quantity of scrap-iron, as well as to facilitate access to public parks and open spaces for air-raid precautions purposes and to improve their appearance, he will secure the removal of all iron railings surrounding public parks and open spaces in the United Kingdom and the utilisation of the metal thus obtained for the production of munitions?

Mr. Ramsbotham

Where air-raid shelters have been constructed in the Royal Parks, to which parks only my jurisdiction extends, arrangements have been made in every case to facilitate and control access. It has long been the policy to cut down railings in the Royal Parks to a minimum: but, while I sympathise with the object that the hon. and gallant Member has in view, I regret that it is not, for practical reasons, possible to go farther than we have done or to dispense with railings altogether.