§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Home Secretary whether the production of Anderson shelters is at a rate sufficient to meet all the demands; and whether all the available plant for the production of these shelters is now operating?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe rate of supply of householders' steel shelters has from the outset been governed primarily by the productive capacity of the galvanized corrugated steel sheet industry and by the demands made by other consumers of this material. Available plant was augmented in several respects in order to obtain the maximum output of which the industry is capable. Arrangements were also made to import sheet bars from Australia and the Continent to keep the rolling mills fully occupied. Recently966W the output has been affected—I hope only temporarily—by more urgent demands upon the raw material, by the demand for galvanized sheets for the obscuration of light in industrial premises and by transport difficulties; but every effort is being made to maintain production at the highest possible level.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Home Secretary why it is that on the northern borders of London, and in particular in the boroughs of St. Pancras and Hornsey, applications from those entitled to the free issue of steel shelters have in many cases not yet been satisfied?
§ Sir J. AndersonOf a total number of nearly 14,000 applications for shelters for the boroughs of St. Pancras and Hornsey, less than 1,000 are outstanding; and most if not all of these are applications which have been made during the last three weeks. Applications from all vulnerable areas have been exceedingly numerous since the beginning of the emergency, and they are being dealt with as expeditiously as manufacturing output permits.