HC Deb 12 October 1939 vol 352 cc507-8
63. Mr. Ammon

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered representations from the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell regarding the council's liability to bear the cost of wages paid to employes seconded for Civil Defence duties unless temporary employes are engaged in substitution; whether he is aware that the present instructions, such as are contained in Region Circular No. 60, impose heavy liabilities on local authorities; and what does he propose to do to alleviate the heavy expenditure thrown upon the local rates?

Sir J. Anderson

I am giving careful considerat'on to the representations on this subject which I have received from the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell. The issue raised forms part of the general question of the financing of Civil Defence expenditure in war time, on which I am already in consultation with representatives of the local authorities.