§ 30. Mr. Brookeasked the Home Secretary what is the present position as regards reservation of full-time air-raid wardens; and what steps he is taking to ensure the permanent maintenance of a nucleus of fit and fully active men for this service locally, in view of the claims of military service on the one hand and war work in industry on the other.
The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security(Mr. Mabane): In order to make the best use of man-power it was always intended that the wardens' service should be recruited mainly from men and women giving part-time service, and that the men should either be over military age or be men whose primary occupation was reserved. In this way youth and maturity would be properly combined in a service in which judgment is no less important than vigour. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service has agreed to the deferment of the calling up of full-time wardens in key positions over thirty, on the individual merits of particular cases. In general, where there is an undue proportion of full-time wardens liable to be called up for military service in the near future and the substitution of older men or women cannot be speedily effected, my right hon. Friend proposes to invite the Minister of Labour and National Service to agree to the necessary periods of deferment.