§ 42. Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many whole-time or part-time members of the Civil Defence services have been released up to 31st August; and how many have joined the Home Guard?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security (Miss Wilkinson)It is not desirable to publish the numbers of releases from whole-time Civil Defence service. No figures are available to show how many of the men released have since enrolled in the Home Guard. I hesitate to put local authorities to the trouble of compiling returns to show in how "many cases they have agreed to serving part-time personnel being also enrolled in the Home Guard. Owing to depletion of whole-time strength, increasing reliance has to be 520 placed upon part-time service. Release from whole-time service in Civil Defence is therefore usually conditional upon the individual's giving part-time service. In many areas, however, recruits for the Home Guard are acceptable only if they sever their connection with Civil Defence.
§ Sir T. MooreWhile I realise the difficulty of giving these figures, are my hon. Friend and her Department satisfied that this process is proceeding satisfactorily?
§ Miss WilkinsonIt is under constant revision, and, as far as anything in these circumstances can be satisfactory, we are reasonably well satisfied.