HC Deb 07 August 1941 vol 373 cc2077-8
27. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Home Secretary what extra powers have now been given to Regional Commissioners by the recent circular?

Mr. H. Morrison

As local authorities were informed by the Circular to which my hon. Friend refers, it is proposed to delegate to Regional Commissioners the powers exercisable by a competent authority under the new paragraph (IA) which has been added to Defence Regulation 54B. This paragraph enables a competent authority to give instructions of a specific kind to local authorities. Such instructions may deal, for example, with any of the matters on which a local authority has to take action after a heavy air raid, and the instructions may require local authorities to take measures which lie outside the scope of their ordinary Civil Defence services.

Mr. Lindsay

Will my right hon. Friend consider putting copies of these more important circulars in the Vote Office?

Mr. Morrison

Yes, Sir, I will give consideration to that point in the case of circulars that would be likely to be of interest to hon. Members, if not putting them in the Vote Office depositing them in the Library, so that hon. Members can ask the Department for a copy if they wish to have one.