§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many air-raid shelters now remain in the City of Aberdeen and what is his present policy with regard to their maintenance and demolition and with regard to allowing those occupiers on whose premises they stand to adapt them or use them for storage or as workshops or for other purposes.
§ Mr. MaclayThere are some 2,830 shelters in the City of Aberdeen for which 143W the Corporation are responsible. It is the policy of the Government to preserve sound air-raid shelters unless there are compelling grounds for removal in individual cases; and the Civil Defence (Shelters)(Maintenance)(Scotland)Regulations, 1956, make it a function of local authorities to maintain them. Permission to adapt a sound shelter for other purposes is given only in exceptional circumstances, where the alterations are of such a minor character that the structure could readily be restored at short notice.