asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Metropolitan borough councils are being invited by the Commissioner of Police to construct protections for shelters against bombs during air raids; whether this will involve considerable expenditure; whether it has been represented to His Majesty's Government that the cost should fall upon the national Exchequer and not upon local rates; and whether he will advise the Treasury to make the necessary Grants for this purpose?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Commissioner of Police has recommended the local authorities in London to strengthen their air-raid shelters with sandbags, and the Government has undertaken to supply sandbags free of cost. This is the chief item of expenditure, and I think the remainder of the cost may well be borne by local funds in the Metropolis as it is in the rest of the country.

Arising out of that answer, may I ask if the chief ex- pense will not be labour, and whether in view of the national importance of the work the Government will pay out of the Treasury the amount expended on labour.

I cannot recommend that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of employing German prisoners on this kind of work?

I do not think that is either necessary or desirable.