§ 27. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the danger to children in particular and the public in general of the former civil defence emergency water tanks, and bombed sites; and whether he will request local councils to remove these tanks and fence in all bombed sites, and, where councils are confronted with financial difficulties in carrying out these tasks, arrange for an Exchequer grant towards the costs of the work.
§ Mr. BevinsAs regards emergency water tanks, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stepney (Mr. W. Edwards) on 18th April by the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department. As regards bombed sites, local authorities have wide powers to secure that dangerous sites or other premises adjoining streets are fenced or made safe, and I do not think that they need guidance from my right hon. Friend. if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, however, perhaps he would let me know of it.