(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/129/67
Image Reference:0050
-7
2o/
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT )
SECRET
£14th
^ i Al pi r^i l , 1954
CABINET OFFICE
RECORD COPY
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CABINET
SHELTER POLICY
Memorandum by the Minister of Works
The Defence C o m m i t t e e on 30th March, 1953 a s k e d m e to t r y and
p e r s u a d e applicants for building l i c e n c e s for f o u r - s t o r e y and higher
buildings to include in their plans a strengthened b a s e m e n t adequate for
u s e a s an a i r - r a i d s h e l t e r .
I have no p o w e r s to c o m p e l a building owner
to do t h i s .
2.
P e r s u a s i o n has s u c c e e d e d in the m a j o r i t y of c a s e s , but siiace the
e x p l o s i o n on 1st March of the hydrogen bomb s o m e o w n e r s do not think the
e x t r a e x p e n s e i s worth incurring.
The new buildings a r e n e e d e d and the
l i c e n c e s ought to be given.
But when I grant t h e m it is fairly c e r t a i n
that the p o l i c y of p e r s u a s i o n w i l l no l o n g e r be e f f e c t i v e .
3.
A c c o r d i n g l y , if it i s s t i l l thought that strengthened b a s e m e n t s a r e
e s s e n t i a l I m u s t a s k for c o m p u l s o r y p o w e r s .
It i s unlikely that t h e s e could
be obtained u n l e s s the Government a g r e e d to make grants to c o v e r the c o s t
of the s h e l t e r s .
T h i s might run into £10 m i l l i o n s a y e a r , or e v e n m o r e
if flats a r e included.
4.
The M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e on Civil D e f e n c e c o n s i d e r e d the
q u e s t i o n on 12th A p r i l and thought that c o m p u l s o r y p o w e r s could not be
contemplated.
A s this would m e a n that the c o n s t r u c t i o n of s h e l t e r s for
the public would m o r e or l e s s c e a s e , I w a s a s k e d to bring the m a t t e r to
the Cabinet.
D.E.
M i n i s t r y of W o r k s , S . E . 1 .
13th A p r i l , 1954.