§ 23. Major Maxwell Fyfeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that local authorities in London, who are the recruiting agents for the Civil Defence Services some of whose personnel are paid £3 5s. a week, are offering to employ fire-watchers at £5 a week; that this position is in part due to the fact that most of the employés of such local authorities who are subject to the Fire-watching Order were encouraged to join the Home Guard and are therefore exempt from fire-watching duties regardless of the time that they give to Home Guard training; and whether he will consult with the Secretary of State for War and local authorities as to the best use in local defence of the available man-power reserve?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security (Miss Wilkinson)I am aware that in some areas difficulties have arisen because an insufficient number of persons is available. This is one of the matters which are being considered in the discussions which are now taking place with regard to the Business Premises Order.