§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Lord Privy Seal whether any progress has now been made in devising and producing a satisfactory form of protection from gas attack for infants?
§ Sir J. AndersonYes, Sir. Satisfactory articles have been designed, and contracts have been placed for their production.
§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Lord Privy Seal in view of the fact that every air raid will reduce accommodation and in crease pressure on crowded areas, why he 913W proposes to prop basements in war time and evict the tenants, particularly in view of the fact that re-housing evicted tenants would cost a minimum of £50 per head, whereas completely bomb-proof shelter could be provided for a figure approximating to £11 per head?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe Government's plans for strengthening basements with a view to providing air-raid shelter for private householders will not involve the eviction of tenants.
§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Lord Privy Seal whether the duties which air-raid precautions volunteers and auxiliary firemen will be asked to discharge by way of whole-time service in war will be in any way different in the case of men and women, respectively; if so, on what lines; and whether he will give further consideration as to whether such difference justifies the great differentiation in the pay of the women?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe duties of men and women volunteers will vary consider ably, both as between the sexes and as between the members of each sex. The rate of pay proposed is a generalised rate not related to any particular duty, but to the duties as a whole and the other relevant circumstances. In differentiating between the pay of men and women, regard has necessarily been had to the practice obtaining generally in this matter.
§ Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will arrange for the Finsbury Borough Council's exhibition of deep air-raid shelters to be shown to Members of the House in Westminster Hall or in a Committee room upstairs?
§ Sir J. AndersonI have considered this suggestion, but feel that to adopt it be fore the scheme has received the necessary technical examination would give the public a wholly misleading impression.
§ Mr. Parkerasked the Lord Privy Seal why the minimum of 75 square feet of combined wall, ceiling, and floor space per person is recommended for places prepared as gas-approved refuges?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe standard is that recommended in special connection with gas-proofed rooms. It represents the minimum which, in such rooms and in conditions of prolonged occupation, was914W considered sufficient to prevent the temperature and humidity from assuming dangerous proportions; but my technical advisers are now considering how far it may be possible to modify this standard in the case of larger shelters.
§ Mr. Parkerasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the reason for stating that the cubic content of the trenches specified in the Home Office document, Specification, etc., in regard to permanent lining of trenches, November, 1938, and January, 1939, should not be less than 31 cubic feet per foot run of trench?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe standard official design allows for somewhat over 31 cubic feet per foot run. It was necessary to fix a figure to ensure that alternative de signs submitted for approval were in reasonable correspondence with it.