HC Deb 24 November 1938 vol 341 cc1981-4W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is yet in a position to make a statement in regard to those open spaces in London governed by special Act of Parliament which were utilised for trenches during the crisis, the work being carried out by local authorities; and whether such open spaces can be put back to their original condition?

Sir J. Anderson

So far as I am aware, trenches have been constructed on the open spaces referred to only with the consent of the controlling authority. The inclusion of trenches upon privately owned property as part of the permanent system outlined to the House on 3rd November must depend in each case upon a number of considerations of which the consent of the owners would be one. I hope to issue instructions to the local authorities on the subject shortly; but in the meantime I should be prepared to consider any case in which a local authority, as the result of representations made to them, proposes re-instatement of the ground.

Mr. Parker

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether contractors were appointed directly by the Home Office to dig trenches in the London parks during the crisis; and under what Act and Section of such Act are Metropolitan borough councils held responsible for expenditure so incurred?

Sir J. Anderson

Contractors were not appointed directly by the Home Office. The Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors offered their services in connection with the digging of trenches and my right hon. Friend welcomed this offer. After consultation with representatives of the Metropolitan authorities, the services of the contractors were made available to the Metropolitan borough councils, but there was no obligation on the borough Councils to accept them, and, though the great majority did, one or two in fact did not. As regards the last part of the question, the responsibility for the provision of such shelters as may be necessary for the protection of the public is allocated to the Metropolitan boroughs by the Air-Raid Precautions (London) (Allocation of Duties) Order made under Section 2 (1) of the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1937.

Mr. E. J. Williams

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he would welcome proposals from the local authorities for air-raid precautions shelter accommodation for the population of their areas?

Sir J. Anderson

In a circular issued on 28th March last local authorities were invited to arrange for a survey to be made of accommodation in their area which could be used for air-raid shelters; and it was then pointed out that, until that survey had been completed, it was not possible to judge finally the extent to which the creation of special structures should be considered.

Mr. E. J. Williams

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he proposes to collaborate with the local authorities in Mid-Glamorgan on matters of air-raid precautions owing to the special circumstances arising from the construction of a Royal arsenal in the district?

Sir J. Anderson

My officers are constantly collaborating with local authorities on the subject of air-raid precautions schemes and will do so with regard to the schemes which the local authorities in the area in question are required by Statute to prepare.

Mr. Johnston

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many sandbags were allocated for the defence of hospitals in Central and East Scotland; where they were stored; and whether they were available for the defence of these hospitals during the recent crisis?

Sir J. Anderson

I regret that I am unable to give the details asked for by the right hon. Gentleman. Sandbags were issued in bulk to local authorities and it was their function to allocate them as they thought best for the protection of premises in their area. The supplies available were issued to the areas which were considered to be most exposed to risk.

Mr. Lewis

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that in the borough of St. Pancras, where gas masks have already been issued to every household of the quantity and size required, a house-to-house canvass is now being carried out for the purpose of compiling a list of the names of all the separate individuals in each household with a note as to the size they take in gas masks; and as, owing to the changes in the composition of households, such a list must rapidly become obsolete, will he take steps to stop the waste of time and money involved in this canvass?

Sir J. Anderson

The canvass referred to is necessary, not only for the purpose of ascertaining the number of persons without respirators for whom provision must be made, but also for checking the sizes of those already issued and for seeing that they are, and are being maintained, in good condition. In the borough of St. Pancras it has been ascertained as a result of the canvass that in two areas where the distribution of respirators was believed to be complete some 10 per cent. of the population (excluding infants) were in fact without respirators; and I am satisfied that in this as in other areas the canvass is a necessary and valuable measure of precaution.

Mr. Sorensen

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied with the respirator-census card already distributed; whether he has received suggestions for improvements thereof; and whether he will consider the desirability of adopting a new type of card on which fuller particulars are printed?

Sir J. Anderson

The card was supplied to local authorities for recording the numbers and sizes of gas masks required by residents as ascertained in the house-to-house fitting census. There is no objection to authorities using any other form of record if considered more suitable to their needs.