§ 21. Mr. Ian Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement with regard to the appointment of a commandant of the Civil Defence Staff College in succession to Major-General Lethbridge.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeMajor-General J. G. Bruce was appointed Commandant of the Civil Defence Staff College as from 1st November.
§ Mr. HarveyDoes my right hon. and learned Friend realise that while everyone will welcome the appointment of this distinguished soldier, there will be general regret that General Lethbridge was forced by ill health to leave his post, and that it is largely due to his enthusiasm and initiative that the Civil Defence Staff College has made such great progress?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI am very glad that my hon. Friend has given me the opportunity, in which, I am sure, the right hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede), who was my predecessor, will join, of conveying the thanks of everyone connected with Civil Defence for the work that General Lethbridge has done and our deep regret for the reasons which caused him to cease performing the work.
§ Mr. EdeMay I be allowed to associate myself with what the right hon. and learned Gentleman has said, and to pay warm tribute to the work which Major-General Lethbridge did in helping foreign and Dominion Governments in dealing with their problems of civil defence?