§ Mr. Boyceasked the Home Secretary (1) whether he is aware that the gates giving access to public parks and other enclosures containing public air-raid shelter trenches are locked at night; and what provision has been made to enable the public to gain immediate access to those trenches in the event of a night air raid;
(2) whether he is aware that in many cases members of the public, who live within a few yards of public air-raid precautions trenches which are situated behind iron railings, would, owing to lack of gates, be required to cover several hundred yards in order to reach those trenches; and whether he will take the necessary steps to provide more direct access to the trenches in such cases?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am aware that in the interests of safety and in order to prevent misuse, most local authorities have adopted the practice of fencing off public shelters. Where this has been done arrangements have necessarily had to be made for rapid opening of the gates in the event of an air-raid warning. Such arrangements in general rely upon the use of keys by the police, wardens or specially appointed shelter marshals. Public trench shelters have been sited with a view to supplying cover primarily to those of the public who would be caught in the open in the event of a raid, and householders living nearby should ordinarily be able to rely on domestic shelter in their own homes. I have no reason to believe that local authorities are not fully alive to the1376W necessity of providing proper access to these shelters, but if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the case he has in mind I will make inquiries.