§ 51. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the strain borne by volunteer wardens who work long hours during the day, it is considered necessary that wardens' posts should always be manned at night by two voluntary wardens even when one only has been found necessary in the past.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security (Miss Ellen Wilkinson)The manning of wardens' posts is a matter to be decided by the local authority in consultation with the Regional Commissioner. Where, therefore, in vulnerable areas, it has been decided, in the light of operational considerations, that posts should be manned at night by two persons, whole-time or part-time, my right hon. Friend would not wish to intervene. There are, of course, many other areas in which posts are manned only on an alert.
§ Mr. SorensenHas any kind of guidance been given to areas that are not so vulnerable not to employ voluntary wardens unnecessarily, in view of the very long hours that many of them work during the day?
§ Miss WilkinsonThis matter has been fully gone into with the Regional Commissioners, and between the Regional Commissioners and the local authorities.