§ 35. Mr. Ian Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether agreement has yet been reached with local authorities on the subject of financial grants to be made to them for Civil Defence purposes under the Civil Defence Act.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)At a meeting on 1st August last, I discussed with representatives of the local authorities proposals for regulations under Section 3 of the Civil Defence Act, 1948. There was a substantial measure of agreement between us, but the local authorities put forward alternative proposals on certain points which would involve amendment of the Act. Discussions on these proposals are actively proceeding and I will make a further statement as soon as I am in a position to do so. In the meantime, the local authorities' associations have assured me that the progress of Civil Defence preparations will not be held up.