§ 62. Sir T. Mooreasked the Home Secretary whether he can make any general statement on the more effective employment of voluntary Civil Defence workers who, for the moment, are finding sufficient leisure to help in other directions also?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security (Miss Wilkinson)I am not clear whether my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to employment for whole-time or for part-time members of the Civil Defence Services, but the potential loss to production inherent in the present system of manning will diminish with the development of the policy of release to industry and providing alternative employment referred to in Home Security Circular 88 /1942, of which I am sending him a copy. So far as part-time members of the Services are concerned, the majority are engaged in standby duty after a full day's work. My right hon. Friend fears that it is not practicable to attempt to organise industrial work during night shifts at the Civil Defence depots. These are widely dispersed, employ relatively small numbers and seldom have workshop facilities.