§ 16. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the present strength of the Civil Defence Corps; how this compares with six months ago; and which section of the corps is most below establishment.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Major Gwilym Lloyd-George)In England and Wales, the strength of the Civil Defence Corps on 31st October was 325,546, which is 16,008 more than six months ago. Taking the country as a whole, the rescue section is most below establishment.
§ Mr. H. HyndIs the Minister satisfied with this progress, and, if not, will he make a special effort to boost recruiting?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI think we must say that progress has been disappointingly slow, but, as a result of the campaign which we have been conducting this autumn, there has been an increase in October of about 9,500.