§ 35. Sir Nicholas Grattan-Doyleasked the Home Secretary whether air-raid wardens and other recognised volunteer workers under air-raid precautions schemes will be entitled to receive compensation for injuries and losses incurred by them when on duty?
§ Mr. LloydAs has already been stated, the view of the Government is that in schemes of peace-time training provision should be made to cover any risks which may be incurred by any air-raid precaution volunteers in the course of authorised training. Information about an insurance scheme for this purpose was communicated to local authorities last spring.
§ Mr. R. C. MorrisonI take it from the reply of the hon. Gentleman that payment made by a local authority in respect of insurance will be the subject of the grant?
§ 36. Mr. Mathersasked the Home Secretary what are the rates of wages and hours of duty of male and female staffs employed at the air-raid precautions depots where equipment is stored; whether he is aware it is complained that the conditions compare unfavourable with those prevailing in comparable employment in outside industry; and whether he will remove this grievance?
§ Mr. LloydThe minimum weekly rates of wages paid at the Home Office regional stores vary between 45s. and 52s. for adult male workers and between 27s. 5d. and 29s. 6d. for adult female workers according to the districts in which the stores are situated, and I have no reason to believe they compare unfavourably with the rates paid by outside industry in the districts for comparable work. No complaints have been received except in 529 respect of the employès in the regional store at Manchester which is the subject of discussion with a trade union.
§ Mr. MathersAm I to understand that negotiations with the trade union are in progress? Is the Minister aware that certain of the women workers are getting less for a 47-hour week than cleaners get for a 30-hour week? Is he satisfied with that position?
§ Mr. LloydThese issues were discussed with the trade union, and, as a result of the trade union's representations, the wages have been increased from 47s. to 50s. a week. Further representations are now being considered from the trade union, and my right hon. Friend will be prepared to receive representations.
§ 37. Sir John Mellorasked the Home Secretary whether he has approved a scheme of air-raid precautions submitted by the Port of London Authority; and what progress is being made with the execution of the scheme?
§ Mr. LloydThe details of the scheme submitted by the Port of London Authority are still under consideration in my Department in connection with schemes affecting ports generally.
§ Sir J. MellorIs the Under-Secretary aware that on 16th February the Chairman of the Port of London Authority, in the course of a speech to the Docks and Harbours Association, said that the schemes were being held up on a question of finance by the Home Office. Does he agree with that statement?
§ Mr. LloydThese schemes, which deal with complicated and technical questions, are under actual examination.
§ Sir J. MellorDoes the Under-Secretary agree that air-raid precautions in the Port of London are of the utmost urgency?
§ 41. Colonel Nathanasked the Home Secretary what steps he has taken to ensure the circulation of the air-raid precautions handbook for householders to Members of this House and the public; and when the issue thereof may be expected?
§ Mr. LloydArrangements have been made for copies of the book to be available for Members in the Vote Office when it is issued. As was explained in the answer given on the 3rd instant to the hon. Member for North Islington (Dr. Guest) the present issue will be to local authorities only and not to the general public.
§ Colonel NathanCan the Under-Secretary say when the issue will be made?
§ Major-General Sir Alfred KnoxCan the Under-Secretary say how many pages this book will contain, and whether it will be in simple language so that hon. Members will be able to understand it?
§ Mr. LloydI cannot say off-hand the exact number of pages, but every effort has been made to state the issue in the simplest possible form.
§ Mr. GallacherWill the hon. Member have it printed in block letters and with pictures?
§ 42. Colonel Nathanasked the Home Secretary how many complete or partial air-raid precautions schemes he has received from local authorities since 3rd February; from which authorities; and what action he has taken with regard to the same?
§ Mr. LloydNo general precautions schemes in accordance with the terms of the Act and of the draft regulations have been formally submitted, but in the course of day-to-day correspondence proposals are made by local authorities covering a variety of subjects, such, for example, as administrative organisation, training centres and the like. These are dealt with as they arise, and in addition the regional inspectors are regularly engaged in assisting the local authorities in the examination of their proposals before they are put into final shape. In view of the different manner in which the proposals are submitted, and the varying ground they cover it would not be possible without disproportionate expenditure of time and labour to give particulars, but it may safely be said that in advance of formal schemes a substantial amount of work is already being done in organisation, in earmarking of buildings, and in recruitment and training of personnel.
Mr. Noel-BakersHave the Government instructed their regional organisers to give special attention to those regions which are specially liable to attack?
§ Mr. LloydNaturally, the whole basis of the preparations is that special protection should be given to specially dangerous areas.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAs a matter of urgency that they should be dealt with first?
§ 43. Colonel Nathanasked the Home Secretary whether, in the event of a local authority failing with reasonable speed and completeness to submit a complete air-raid precautions scheme or to carry the same efficiently into effect when approved, he will appoint a commissioner to take over, on behalf of the Government, the duties and responsibilities of the defaulting local authority on the analogy of the taking over of public assistance duties?
§ Mr. LloydThe Act imposes on local authorities the duty of discharging prescribed functions and my right hon. Friend has every confidence that they will carry out their statutory duties. The hon. and gallant Member's suggestion would involve further legislation for which my right hon. Friend has no reason to think that occasion will arise.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWill the Under-Secretary bear in mind that local authorities realise their responsibilities in connection with this matter, and that the events of the last two days only increase their desire to realise their responsibilities?