39. Major Lloydasked the Minister of Labour whether military hardship tribunals are instructed to give special consideration to the appeals of housewives against compulsory fire-watching on business premises when they are also voluntarily engaged in paid employment and actively working with the Women's Voluntary Service or similar organisations?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Tomlinson)Military Service (Hardship) Committees appointed under the National Service Acts have been designated by the Civil Defence (Exemptions Tribunals) Order made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security to be the tribunals to consider applications for exemption from fire prevention duties on grounds of exceptional hardship. These tribunals are independent judicial authorities, and it would be improper to give instructions to them with regard to the circumstances in which they should grant exemptions.
Major LloydIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases military hardship tribunals are completely ignoring any question of the invaluable hard work that is being put in by thousands of housewives in the evenings in connection with the Women's Voluntary Service and other activities? A real strain is being imposed on these women, and they should not be compelled to undertake fire-watching duties.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI am not fully aware of those things, but the method suggested is not the way to achieve the hon. and gallant Gentleman's object.
Major LloydWill the hon. Gentleman consider some method by which at least a suggestion could be made to hardship tribunals?
§ Mr. TomlinsonThat would call for an amendment of the Civil Defence (Exemptions Tribunals) Order, which was not made by my right hon. Friend.
§ Major PetherickIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that this sort of thing will continue unless there is control of the Civil Defence Service so that it may be discovered who is and who is not doing a full-time job?