§ 24. Mrs. Tateasked the Home Secretary whether he has noted that Bristol is raising an anti-blitz and anti-invasion force and calling upon men between 18 and 60 and women between 19 and 49 for this force; and whether this plan will be extended to other areas?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonNo special force is being raised in Bristol. As my hon. Friend will be aware, power has been taken to meet the recent expansion of the Home Guard and the needs of the Civil Defence services arising from the release of whole-time personnel to industry by compulsory direction to part-time service. Directions are being given in Bristol and elsewhere by the local officers of the Ministry of Labour and National Service on requisitions received from the Home Guard authorities and the local authorities respectively.
§ Mrs. TateAre the authorities inquiring of men and women who join up for this service whether they approve of unequal rates of compensation for war injury? I have inquired, and they do not approve. Could the right hon. Gentleman repre- 159 sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Pensions that they are not legislating in accordance with the will of the people?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe answer to the first part of the question is that I do not know. The answer to the second part is that if my hon. Friend has points of view to convey to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Pensions, it would be more convenient if she would do so direct.