§ 25. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that local government authorities employing people in air-raid precautions services have been instructed not to carry out normal trade union agreements for similar work between themselves and local government employés; on whose authority these instructions were issued; and whether he will make investigations as to the alterations that can be made so that all local government employés, whatever their work, can come under normal trade union standards of employment?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir John Anderson)No such instruction has been issued. The rates of pay and conditions of service for whole-time paid volunteers in the air-raid precaution services do not affect the conditions under which employés of the local authority are engaged for their ordinary work.
31. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to increasing agricultural production and the self-maintenance of this country, he will issue a circular letter to all local authorities with a request that they should encourage, 227 and give permission for, paid air-raid precautions wardens in their unoccupied time to dig the gardens and allotments of their neighbours who, as a result of the war, are away from their homes and prevented from carrying out this task?
§ Sir J. AndersonI hardly think that this would be a suitable matter for a general circular from me.
Mr. De la BèreCan the right hon. Gentleman say what these paid A.R.P. wardens do? Is it one-half as important as the production of food?
§ Sir J. AndersonThey are not paid to do that.