§ 24. Mr. Woodburnasked the Home Secretary what provisions will be made to meet the cases of air-raid precautions 177 wardens and decontamination squads who, in the case of working men volunteers, may be prevented by prolonged duty from being able to attend their ordinary work and thus be subject to severe financial strain; and also what arrangements have been made to make compensation in the case of volunteers and wardens whose clothing may be destroyed in the course of their service?
§ Sir J. AndersonEvery endeavour is made to minimise interference with the normal employment of Civil Defence volunteers, but those who suffer a loss of earnings through duty performed in their normal working hours are compensated for the actual loss sustained, up to a maximum of 10s. a day for men and 7s. for women. Within the same limits compensation is paid for loss of up to two hours remunerative time following a spell of duty which, though performed outside normal working hours, prevents a volunteer from reaching his place of employment at the normal starting time. Reasonable payments may also be made by local authorities to volunteers where they are satisfied that clothing has been damaged in the course of duty.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the Minister aware that there is apprehension among many of the volunteers that with the long spells of duty that have been taking place in London, it may not be possible for a volunteer to reach his work at all on a given day, and in that case, under the existing rules, he evidently receives no compensation? Is the Minister prepared to give any assurances in this respect?
§ Sir J. AndersonI cannot give specific assurances on such a point, but I thought it would be clear from my answer that the Department have looked sympathetically at this matter, and if there is any matter in respect of which, in view of conditions as they are to-day, some easement is desirable, I am certainly prepared to examine it.