§ 1. Mr. Pageasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will promote periodically a national conference of representatives of civil defence corps.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Miss Patricia Hornsby-Smith)My right hon. Friend will be glad to consider any detailed proposals my hon. Friend may care to make, since he is not clear whether such a conference as is suggested would be appropriate.
§ Mr. PageIs my hon. Friend aware that what I intended by the Question was to suggest a conference of those who are really doing the work of civil defence in the districts, and not at county or area level?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithWhile my right hon. Friend would be very pleased to consider any suggestion made by my hon. Friend, it must be realised that it would be a very large undertaking, as there are 330,000 volunteers, and my hon. Friend specifically wants those who are out in the villages to be considered. As this matter is the statutory responsibility of the local authorities, I think that we should not underestimate the very important conferences they hold in their regions.