§ 7. Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has studied the report of the Sheffield Emergency Committee on the working of its Civil Defence Services during recent raids; and whether he will take steps to implement certain of its recommendations for the rest of the country, 995 particularly in the direction of increasing the authorised strength of rescue parties, improving messenger services, decentralising stores of food and equipment, arranging mutual aid between neighbouring authorities for supplying cooked foods after raids and increasing the price allowed for the purchase of second-hand towing lorries in order to enable better quality vehicles to be obtained?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)I have studied this report with interest, and appropriate steps have been or are being taken to give effect to such of its recommendations as experience of the heavy raids on Sheffield or other towns has shown to be desirable.
§ Mr. CocksIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a limit placed upon the price that can be paid for lorries by local authorities?
§ Mr. MorrisonI could not go into the matter in detail without notice. There are difficulties about lorries. There is a shortage. I assure the hon. Member that I am very conscious of the advisability of doing all that I can about this.
§ Mr. Kenneth LindsayWill my right hon. Friend say in detail what the appropriate steps are? Is he aware that the scheme for utilising the whole of the teaching staff and the equipment at rest centres has proved very efficient in Sheffield? Is it being copied elsewhere?
§ Mr. MorrisonThere is a number of towns where that is being done, including London.