§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to minimise fatal and other casualties arising from air raids, he will consider making fire-watching and the attendance of Civil Defence personnel optional in the case of cultural and religious buildings, particularly where these are not closely adjacent to domestic, commercial and other types of building, or where their destruction would not endanger those other buildings.
§ Miss WilkinsonI cannot see my way to adopt this suggestion. It is essential that, so far as practicable, fires should be prevented from breaking out, especially in built-up areas. Once a fire gets a hold on a building, no matter what the building's character, it constitutes a serious risk for other buildings, besides presenting a beacon which may draw further attack on the neighbourhood. I may add that many public-spirited citizens have done fine work in the protection of such buildings as are mentioned by my hon. Friend against fire, and their efforts are, I think, worthy of praise.