Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Defence. – in the House of Commons at on 22 May 1941.
Mr Richard Stokes
, Ipswich
asked the Home Secretary who was responsible for specifying the use of lime mortar for use in the construction of brick surface-shelters; and why lime cement mortar was not specified?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 20th March to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher).
Mr Henry Brooke
, Lewisham West
asked the Home Secretary whether he exercises any control over the offering to the public of air-raid shelters of private manufacture or construction, which purport to give as good protection as the official types of shelter; and whether there is any means by which a person possessing or contemplating the purchase of such a shelter can obtain an authoritative opinion on its resisting qualities?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
As the Joint Parliamentary Secretary explained on 10th April in reply to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards), I have instituted a scheme whereby manufacturers of proprietary types of shelters designed for erection indoors may submit their products for test. Some designs are already on the point of receiving approval. Intending purchasers of these or any other types of shelter would be well advised to obtain the services of a competent consultant. With the co-operation of the professional (institutions concerned, lists of consultants willing to give advice for a fee of half a guinea were drawn up last year, and furnished to local authorities. It was not possible to provide for every local authority's area but if, on application to his local authority, a person is unable to get the name of such a consultant, he should communicate with the Central Board of Advisory Panels of Professional Consultants at 1–7, Great George Street, S.W.1.
Mr Henry Brooke
, Lewisham West
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that four people were killed in my Constituency on a recent night entirely through putting their trust in a shelter which was not adequate for its purpose, and will he ask the Minister of Information to give the utmost publicity to the rights of individuals, as described in his answer, so that lives may not be unnecessarily lost in 'future through over-confidence?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
I will do anything I can in that direction.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
