§ Mr. Thurtleasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the gum-boots issued to air-raid precautions workers are being kept entirely for use in connection with gas attacks; that these boots are so made that they are likely to last for years even if used fairly frequently; and will he therefore authorise the use of these gum-boots by air-raid precautions workers in times of bad weather, and not have them kept exclusively for use during gas attacks?
§ Sir J. AndersonIt is important to conserve supplies of equipment and I should hesitate to accept the suggestion made in the second part of the question. At this stage I do not think it would be wise to authorise the use of gum-boots except for the purpose for which they have been issued.
§ Mr. W. R. Duckworthasked the Home Secretary whether he has any figures to show the extent to which unemployed men have been given paid air-raid precautions work; and if, where such work is available, he will recommend to local authorities that preference should be given to them?
§ Sir J. AndersonNo such figures are available. As whole-time service involves being on duty, or at call, at any time of the day and for such hours as circumstances may require, it could not ordinarily be undertaken by persons already in paid employment. I should not feel justified in making any recommendation to local authorities which would fetter their discretion to select for whole-time service only those persons who are best qualified to undertake these duties.