§ 23. Mr. Tinkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can now make a statement on the reduction of the work of regional commissioners and their staff.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonFollowing previous adjustments, the staff of the regional organisation for England and Wales is being reduced in accordance with the developments of the war situation, though as stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 5th October, the process must necessarily be gradual. A number of Deputy Regional Commissioners are resigning from their posts with effect either immediately or in the near future. I should like to take this opportunity of paying public tribute to the invaluable services which Regional Commissioners and their deputies have given to our country during their tenure of office. The Government are deeply grateful to them for their devotion to a task which has been both difficult and onerous. The efficiency of the Civil Defence organisation—and recent conditions have but given further proof of that efficiency—is in no small measure due to the admirable work done throughout the country by the Regional Commissioners, 2519 their deputies and their staffs, who have unsparingly given themselves to furthering the war effort in their regions. The setting up of a regional organisation has been amply justified by events, and I have no hesitation in saying that without it we could not have weathered the storm with anything like the same degree of success.
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is, obviously, more difficult in the London region because of the flying bomb attacks, which are continuing to some extent, but there have been reductions and I am keeping the London position under review.
§ Mr. LeachDoes my right hon. Friend realise that his high tribute to the Regional Commissioners can be borne out by every Member of the House who has municipal knowledge?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am much obliged to my hon. Friend.