HC Deb 26 February 1942 vol 378 c360W
Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether adequate steps are being taken to deal with Home Guard and civilian casualties in districts temporarily cut off from communication with control centres in the event of the failure of telephone and road communication resulting from invasion?

Mr. E. Brown

The plans made in the regions take account of the possibility of districts being isolated in the manner suggested in the Question.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many villages, even in areas presumed to be most likely to bear the brunt of invasion, contain neither medical supplies nor first-aid personnel; and whether action will be taken without delay to alter this position?

Mr. Brown

Considerable progress has already been made in providing first-aid facilities in villages to meet the risks of invasion, and the Regional Commissioners concerned are taking steps to see that the arrangements are as complete as possible.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether he has dealt with the recent appeal from the decision of a local medical war committee declining to approve of a commission for the only doctor willing to accept one in an area for which the group commander urgently required a medical officer; what has been the result of the appeal, seeing that both the local medical war committee and his own Department refused to hear personal representations from the Home Guard authorities; and whether he will now report on this case?

Mr. Brown

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the case to which he refers I shall be glad to look into it.