§ Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of the Government to grant extra payment to the unemployed so that they may be in a position to lay in stock an extra week's provisions, in conformity with the Government's air-raid precautions policy as announced by the Lord Privy Seal?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMy right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has already explained that it is the Government's policy to ensure that adequate supplies of food will be available in time of war for all classes of the population, and that, while there is no objection to householders if they so desire accumulating small reserves of suitable foodstuffs, there is no obligation on them to do so, and if, in fact, they do so the reserves might be requisitioned in an1376W emergency. In these circumstances there appears to be no need to take the steps suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Metropolitan Police are taking over the recruiting and training of all air-raid wardens in the London County Council area?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am glad to have this opportunity of removing the misapprehension which has arisen regarding the changes proposed in the Air-Raid Wardens' Service in the London area. It has never been intended to transfer the Wardens' Service to the police or do anything which would cause the service to lose its separate identity. But there is at present no central control of the various wardens' services in the London area, and with a view to creating such a control for the purpose of their practical training in time of peace and their more efficient operation in time of war it is proposed to place them under the direction, not of the police, but of Sir Philip Game, who will act in the dual capacity of head of the Metropolitan Police and of an entirely separate London Wardens' Service.
A memorandum setting out in detail the nature of the proposed changes is being prepared and will shortly be sent to the local authorities concerned with a view to a discussion of the exact scope of the transfer of responsibility to be effected.
§ Mr. Dayasked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by local authorities during the crisis in purchasing at very high prices the necessary materials and supplies, except in large quantities, and on which they could get no guarantee of delivery; in view of this will he consider introducing legislation which will in 1377W future prevent the exploitation for private gain of any national emergency; and does he propose making any arrangements to establish a co-ordination authority for the purpose of arranging the exchange of facilities in the different Metropolitan areas?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am aware that difficulties in connection with supplies were reported during the crisis. To a large extent the position will be met as the increased supplies of equipment to be provided centrally become available, and as respects other articles I hope, in co-operation with representatives of the traders concerned, to devise measures which would obviate difficulties. As regards the last part of the question, I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind, but co-operation in connection with the purchase of materials not supplied centrally is certainly a matter for examination with the local authorities concerned.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, when the Government were considering their short-term plan, they had asked for information from the Civil Service holiday camps and the Young Men's Christian Association in connection with their camps for peace and war times?
§ Sir J. AndersonBefore the improvised evacuation plan was drawn up in September, information had been collected by the Government regarding the amount of accommodation available in existing camps throughout the country.