CIVIL DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 9

CIVIL DEFENCE

PROGRESS IN BRITAIN

FLEET AIR ARM EXPANSION

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, August 2,

The Minister of Civilian Defence, Sir John Anderson, referring in the Houde of Commons today to the civil defence organisation, said1"' that! £70,000,000 had been allocated in a single financial year. There had been a noteworthy response to the call for service. . I He also stated that of 2,500,000 steel I shelters ordered 1,000,000, capable of sheltering 6,000,000, had been delivered. As from next month steel shelters would be made available to local authorities for purchase by people with higher incomes.

It was announced today that about 40,000 persons applied last week to be enrolled for national service, making a total of about 1,983,000 applications since the campaign began in January last.

The announcement of a contract award for a big new British aircraftcarrier and the imminent launching of two more ships of this class brings near to materialisation the Admiralty's plans for large-scale expansion of the fleet air aim.

The name of the new aircraft-carrier is announced as H.M.S. Indefatigable.

A denial was given in the House of Commons today to a recent Press report that the Government had decided to purchase up to 50,000,000 bushels of wheat for storage in Canada. There is no foundation for the statement.