§ 47. Mr. Swinglerasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the fact that both the Civil Defence Corps and the Home Guard are undermanned and the campaigns to recruit to them are competitive, he will indicate which organisations should receive priority and give instructions to stop recruiting to the other.
§ The Prime MinisterI am advised that, over the country as a whole, there is sufficient manpower to meet the requirements of both the Civil Defence 617 Corps and the Home Guard. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. SwinglerDoes the Prime Minister not agree that the multiplication of weak organisations is as undesirable and futile as the reshuffling of incompetent Ministers. Is he not aware that half the London boroughs have fewer than one-fifth of the Civil Defence people they require and that the same applies to many great cities, including Grimsby, Hull, Nottingham, Leicester, Leeds and Stoke-on-Trent? Does this not require further consideration?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member does not seem to me to be seeking information in his supplementary question as much as endeavouring to make a score.