4. Colonel Arthur Evansasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that 4 an American-born woman, who acquired British nationality by marriage 18 years ago, has been dismissed from her post as a senior air-raid warden by the local council of a Hertfordshire town, who informed her that they felt it imperative to eliminate from Civil Defence Services all persons of alien origin; and, in view of the fact that American pilots are now being accepted in the Royal Air Force, will he issue instructions to local authorities discouraging such dismissals from Defence Services of friendly Americans on technical grounds, particularly those who have subsequently acquired British nationality?
§ Sir J. AndersonMy attention has been drawn to this case. The responsibility for deciding whether any particular individual is suitable to act as a member of one of the public Civil Defence Services rests with the local authority concerned. I have suggested to local authorities that they should take steps to satisfy themselves as to the reliability of individual members of these Services; but no instruction issued by my Department would justify the dismissal of a British subject from those Services solely on the ground that he or she was of alien origin.
§ 5. Mr. Pearsonasked the home Secretary whether it is intended to make a boot allowance to air-raid precautions wardens on the same lines as is made to the special police and observation post members, especially as many of these men are unemployed?
§ Sir J. AndersonNo, Sir. It is not proposed to make a boot allowance to wardens.
§ Mr. PearsonIs there any reason why the air-raid wardens should be treated differently from people in the same Services?
§ Sir J. AndersonNo, Sir; the treatment is similar in regard to the Civil Defence Services properly so-called. The police and observation post members, to whom reference is made in the Question, are under entirely different terms of service.
§ Mr. ThorneIf the local authorities made an allowance, would that allowance rank for grant?
§ Sir J. AndersonNo, Sir; it would not rank for grant.