HC Deb 14 October 1943 vol 392 cc1039-40
33. Mr. Leach

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the Civil Defence schemes of local authorities, after a period of years, are now working well; what proportion of the activities of the Civil Defence Regional Commissioners are thereby rendered unnecessary; and whether he can now see his way to make reductions to a skeleton basis of the staffs of the latter so as to render fresh manpower available for the national needs?

Mr. H. Morrison

Generally speaking, the answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The local Civil Defence organisation must, however, be constantly adapted to the changing circumstances of the war, and the Regional Commissioners' function of helping, advising and co-ordinating the local authorities is continuous. Moreover, in order to achieve considerable economies in man-power and material in the local authority services, certain additional functions have been laid upon the Regional Commissioners, such as the organisation of the Civil Defence Reserve. I am satisfied that the Regional Offices are a necessary and valuable link in the chain of Civil Defence, both administrative and operational, and that it would be impossible to reduce their staffs to a skeleton basis. In recent months these staffs have been continually reviewed and pruned where possible, and a further such review is about to be undertaken.

Mr. Leach

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a certain amount of overlapping of activities takes place in this matter, of which I could give him particulars, if he wished?

Mr. Morrison

If my hon. Friend will let me have those particulars, I shall be very happy to look into them.

66. Mr. Leach

asked the Minister of Health how far the Civil Defence schemes of local authorities now working satisfactorily for a period of years make it possible to reduce the overlapping work of the Civil Defence section of his Department, so as to effect reductions of staff to a skeleton basis and to set free a reserve of man-power for the national needs?

The Minister of Health (Mr. Ernest Brown)

The staffing of the Ministry, both centrally and regionally, is kept under continuous review in the light of all the circumstances, including that referred to by my hon. Friend.