HC Deb 20 August 1940 vol 364 c1124
62. Mr. Butcher

asked the Home Secretary what steps are taken by visits of liaison officers of his Department to see that the knowledge gained by Civil Defence forces who have been in action is rapidly communicated to areas where the personnel have not had actual raid experience?

Mr. Mabane

The importance of profiting from actual experience of air raids is fully realised by the Department. Personal contact with the Civil Defence regional headquarters and local authorities is continuously maintained by visits of the Chief of the Operational Staff, the Inspector-General, senior technical advisers and other members of the headquarters staff, and regional headquarters are constantly in touch with the local authorities in their regions. Beyond this, full reports of air raids are submitted by local A.R.P. controllers as information becomes available, in order that the lessons to be learned may be made generally known. So far the plans prepared for the operation of the Civil Defence services have proved effective in action, and no substantial modifications of instructions have been necessary. In so far as useful information of a technical or operational character has been gained, it has been circulated in some cases in the form of bulletins to regions and in other cases in the form of instructions to local authorities. In addition, a weekly appreciation of recent events is circulated to regions for further distribution. It will be understood, however, that when the Civil Defence services are in action a heavy burden is imposed upon the volunteers and the officers of the local authorities, and the Department deems it unwise to endanger speed in action by undue pressure for immediate reports and information.

Mr. Butcher

Will my hon. Friend make it quite clear that the services which have recently been in action for the first time have proved themselves not very far below the standard of other services?

Mr. Mabane

Reports coming in from all over the country indicate that the Civil Defence Services are behaving magnificently.