HC Deb 12 October 1939 vol 352 cc506-7
62. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Home Secretary under what authority the organisation known as the Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence is constituted, and what are its functions; how it is controlled, directed and financed; what is the number of its personnel; and what proportion of them are in receipt of emoluments or allowances for expenses?

Sir J. Anderson

As the answer is necessarily long I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Davies

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this organisation is duplicating the work of organisations which are already in existence and which are doing the work better than the new organisation?

Sir J. Anderson

This organisation has been in existence for more than a year, and from the beginning it has made a special point of co-ordinating the activities of existing organisations.

Following is the answer:

The Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence came into being as a result of a request made by my predecessor to a group of representative women to bring the voluntary help of women to the assistance of the local authorities in the formation of their A.R.P. services. Subsequently my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health enlisted their help in the problems of the hospital and evacuation services. The organisation, which is working in close contact with my Department and has rendered most valuable service over the whole field of Civil Defence, has an Advisory Council composed of representatives of national women's voluntary organisations. The cost of essential services for its headquarters and regional offices, covering a min mum paid staff, premises and stationery, is met from the Exchequer. Local representatives throughout the country are usually provided with office facilities, and in some cases with clerical assistance, by the local authorities concerned.

Including the headquarters and regional staff, the total number of women holding executive or supervisory appointments in the organisation is 3,700, of whom 97 only are paid. There is also a large number of voluntary clerical staff. It will become necessary under war conditions to give, in a limited number of cases, some small monetary assistance to workers in the organisation whose changed financial circumstances no longer permit them to give their services on a wholly voluntary basis, and I have made arrangements to enable the organisation to give such assistance where necessary. When members of the voluntary staff are required to undertake special journeys away from their offices they are entitled to claim travelling allowances on the same terms as civil servants.