§ 68. Sir Cooper Rawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider standardising the rates of moneys received by the Home Guard, air raid precautions and fire watching services, &pc, for voluntary duties performed, with an hourly basis rate payable over a minimum number of hours, and not over a period of five and ten hours, as at present?
§ Sir K. WoodThis suggestion was carefully considered during the recent review of the rates of subsistence allowance to be paid to part-time Civil Defence workers and persons performing fire-prevention duties either under local authorities or at business premises. A system under which there would be hourly rates would conflict with the general principles on which such allowances, and those payable to the Home Guard, are based, and I am satisfied that the present system is more appropriate.
§ Sir C. RawsonWill my right hon. Friend give a little further consideration to this question? At the request of an important military officer I put this Question to the Secretary of State for War, but he handed it to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister has handed it to my right hon. Friend.