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[Mr. Simmonds.] contractual obligation, so that they should be in fact available when any emergency arises?
Mr. Lloyd: This is a subject with which my right hon. Friend will deal in the course of the Debate.
Mr. Mabane: Can my hon. Friend say how many of this total fall within the category of air raid wardens?
Mr. Lloyd: Not without notice.
Mr. R. Gibson: Do these figures include Scotland?
Mr. Lloyd: Yes, Sir.
Mr. Davidson: If the hon. Gentleman is considering the question of contract, will he also consider the question of pay- ment?
35. Mr. Simmonds asked the Home Secretary what practical steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the committee upon evacuation pre- sided over by the right hon. Member for the Scottish Universities (Sir J. Anderson)?
Mr. Lloyd: As stated in the memoran- dum which my right hon. Friend issued with the report, action has already been taken both in the light of the recommenda- tions in the report and of the experience gained during the recent emergency to examine and prepare in detail evacuation schemes. Steps had been taken before the recent emergency to have ready schemes such as could be operated at once if there were no time for lengthy prepara- tion. Information was given in the Press about such a scheme which had been pre- pared for London. It is, however, fully recognised that with time for preparation much can be done to improve such schemes, and the detailed work necessary for this purpose is in progress.
Mr. Simmonds: Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the wide national support which has been given to this plan and that the nation is only too anxious to see other branches of air-raid precau- tions investigated in a similar manner?
Sir Percy Harris: Will the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House why this report was held up before publication for three months?
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Mr. Lloyd: My right hon. Friend will deal with that rather complicated subject later.
Mr. R. C. Morrison: Can the hon. Gen- tleman say whether he will issue any in- formation to local authorities in the near future, so that they may play their part in making the long and active prepara- tions which will be necessary if this scheme is to be successful?
Mr. Lloyd: Yes, Sir, certainly.
41. Mr. Gallacher asked the Home Sec- retary whether any steps were taken to enable unemployed persons to receive the various articles recommended in the air- raid precautions handbook as being neces- sary for the evacuation of children and for protecting homes in the event of aerial attack?
Mr. Lloyd: As regards evacuation, steps were taken to secure that school children were equipped with the articles which they might need, and arrangements were made for meeting the immediate necessities of all persons who would have become refugees. As regards the provi- sion of various forms of protection for persons remaining in specially vulnerable areas, the subject cannot be adequately dealt with in reply to a question, but my right hon. Friend hopes to have an early opportunity of making a full statement.
Mr. Gallacher: Will the Minister take note of the fact that the allowances paid to those who are unemployed are quite inadequate to meet their ordinary needs, and that if there is any special arrange- ment made for protecting their homes, assistance must be given to them?
43. Mr. Touche asked the Home Sec- retary whether he will consider letting the public know the regulations which would be enforced in time of war regarding such air-raid, precautions as blanketing of win- dows, provision of sand, and the best means of dealing with incendiary and other bombs, so that persons responsible for large buildings may take the necessary preparatory steps to enable them to comply with such regulations should the emergency arise?
Mr. Lloyd: Every endeavour has been and is being made, both through the medium of the published memoranda and handbooks and otherwise, to give the
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498 single-Member constituencies in Eng- land and Wales the number of voters is over 25 per cent. above the average and that the disparity between large and small electorates is greater than it has been since the Reform Act, 1832; and whether he will consider the introduction of legis- lation to make a redistribution before the next General Election?
1 NOVEMBER 1938 widest publicity to the various precau- tionary measures which should be taken by the public against the danger from air raids. It should not, however, be assumed that all these measures would be the subject of mandatory regulations on the outbreak of war. Many of them would remain measures which members of the public and occupiers of premises would be expected to take in their own interests.
Mr. Macquisten: Would it not be as well to mobilise all the unemployed miners and make them build bomb-proof shelters in all the big towns?
Mr. Garro Jones:, Does that answer mean that the dealing with incendiary bombs is left exclusively to the initiative of the public after merely receiving pub- licity information from the Home Office?
Mr. Lloyd: No, Sir, it does not mean that. It is proposed both that the fire brigades should be augmented and also in the case of certain similar brigade plants in some of the streets in the event of air raids, that simple fire extinction apparatus should be made available in certain streets, probably in connection with the air-raid wardens.
BOGUS CLUBS.
34. Mr. Touche asked the Home Secre- tary whether he is aware of the hardship caused to licensed victuallers by the con- tinuance of the unfair competition of bogus clubs; and whether he can make any statement as to when legislation is likely to be introduced on this subject?
The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir Samuel Hoare): I am fully aware of the position, but my hon. Friend will realise that it is not possible for me to-day to make any statement as to the legislative programme for next Session.
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORATES.
37. Sir J. Mellor asked the Home Secre- tary whether, in view of the growing inequality of Parliamentary electorates, he will introduce legislation in order to effect a redistribution before the next General Election?
32. Mr. Keeling asked the Home Secre- tary whether he is aware that in 79 of the
Sir S, Hoare: I am not in a position to add anything to the replies given to pre- vious questions on this subject.
Sir J. Mellor: Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that the size of some electorates in single-Member constituencies is two, three and even four times the size of the average electorate?
Sir S. Hoare: Yes, Sir.
TWO-SHIFT SYSTEM.
38. Mr. Kelly asked the Home Secre- tary the number of firms operating the two-shift system, and also the conditions which have been laid down for transport as well as continued education?
Sir S. Hoare: About 1,100 two-shift authorisations are now in force under the Act of 1936. It is now the practice to insert a condition to the effect that if any young person employed in the shifts is desirous of attending a continuation school or class, reasonable facilities shall be afforded by the employer for such attendance, and where it appears that transport difficulties are liable to arise a condition is inserted that the Secretary of State may at any time require the employer to make such special arrange- ments for the conveyance of workers living at a distance as may be necessary to prevent hardship.
Mr. Kelly: Will the right hon. Gentle- man consider publishing a list of those firms operating this two-shift system?
Sir S. Hoare: I scarcely think that it would be necessary to publish a list of these 1,100 firms, but if the hon. Member will communicate with me, I will see if there is any further information I can give him.
Mr. Rhys Davies: Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the conditions which were laid down by the Factory Department are carried out by the employers?
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