§ Sir R. Glynasked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to indicate in the right quarters that it is the desire of the Government that in all branches of Civil Defence voluntary unpaid effort should be encouraged as much as possible; that when payment is made for services rendered it should not exceed that paid to men in the Services, with calculated allowances for board and lodging, and that if pay is drawn the recipient should sign an undertaking that it is financially necessary; and whether he is aware that in many cases voluntary effort is refused and patriotic individuals become discouraged by actions of this kind?
§ Sir J. AndersonLocal authorities have already been advised that the employment of persons on a whole-time paid basis for Civil Defence services should not be allowed to displace suitable volunteers who are willing to undertake duty without payment, and I am not aware that there is any tendency to disregard that advice. The standard rates of pay for whole-time paid personnel in Civil Defence were determined after careful consideration and with due regard to their relation to the pay and allowances of the rank and file of the military forces. It would not, I think, be possible to make the pay of whole-time volunteers depend on some form of means test as my hon. Friend suggests.
Mr. T. Morrisasked the Home Secretary what efforts were made to obtain voluntary air-raid precautions workers before paid workers were employed; whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt in many centres of population at what is thought to be the absence of system in engaging these workers; whether he is satisfied that the engagement of paid workers is beneficial generally, and that those who for far smaller remuneration do much more arduous work are also satisfied?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe whole recruiting effort for A.R.P. services was based on the principle that these services should rely to as large an extent as possible upon part-time unpaid volunteers. It has, however, always been recognised that under war conditions it would be necessary to maintain a proportion of volunteers on a whole-time paid basis if the1502W services of Civil Defence were to be adequately manned. At the outbreak of hostilities it was essential to mobilise the Civil Defence personnel available, but I am now investigating what adjustments are desirable and possible for the effective organisation of these services over a prolonged term.