HC Deb 26 June 1941 vol 372 cc1092-3
22. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Home Secretary whether the proposed new Deputy Commissioners, one of whom may be responsible for pre-air-raid preparations are to be appointed by himself and are responsible to his Ministry; and whether the team of experts and officials under the senior regional officer of the Ministry of Health will work under the general directions of such Deputy Commissioners?

Mr. H. Morrison

The new Deputy Regional Commissioners will, like the present Commissioners and deputies, be appointed by Royal Warrant and the Minister of Home Security will be, as heretofore, generally responsible for the action taken by the Regional Commissioners and their deputies. The Regional Commissioners will remain responsible. for the general co-ordination of departmental measures in connection with Civil Defence and will allocate duties to their deputies as may be found most convenient in each region. In so far as duties relating to pre-air-raid preparations are allotted to a Deputy Commissioner he will have a special interest in matters for which the Ministry of Health is responsible and the senior regional officers of that Department and their staffs will be closely associated with him for the purpose.

Mr. Lindsay

Do I understand from that that the Deputy Commissioner who is in charge of the pre-blitz arrangements will have the general supervision of the Ministry of Health officials, and will he report to the Commissioner or to my right hon. Friend?

Mr. Morrison

The Regional Commissioner is responsible. It is a matter of domestic arrangement as to how the Regional Commissioner and Deputy Regional Commissioners best use the staff, but I contemplate that one will take fire fighting and fire prevention and other Civil Defence matters and that the other will take over those services relating to blitzed conditions for which the Ministry of Health is largely responsible, and that he will work in close cooperation with officers of the Ministry of Health.

Mr. Thorne

Do I understand from the answer that the local authority are unable to act except with the permission of the Regional Commissioner?

Mr. Morrison

No, they have powers imposed upon them, and we certainly wish them to act under their specific powers in every case.