Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have been in communication with the 1482W authorities of Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, National Gallery, British Museum, and other great buildings, monuments, and collections of national importance, both in London and the provinces, with regard to protection from bombing and other war risks; whether he can assure the House that adequate steps for their protection, have been taken; and whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a Committee to co-operate with and assist trustees of public monuments and collections throughout the country so as to ensure uniform and satisfactory arrangements for protection?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt would be manifestly impossible to take steps which would afford complete protection against enemy aircraft to individual buildings such as those named, but the Office of Works has taken steps, in consultation with the trustees of museums, to give some measure of protection, as also to some of the large public buildings. It is hoped, however, that the service, presided over by Sir Percy Scott, will deal effectively with any further attempts at indiscriminate destruction of property. I do not think that, any useful purpose would be served by the setting up of a Committee, such as is suggested in the question.