§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider a resolution, passed by the Liverpool City Council, on 3rd December, 1941, expressing the opinion that the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, should be amended so as to enable local authorities to treat the dependants of employees killed by enemy action whilst on corporation duty, or on part-time Civil Defence service, in a manner no less favourable than the dependants of their employees who are posted as killed or missing while engaged on war service in the armed forces; and consider amending the Act on these lines in accord with public opinion on this matter?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe resolution referred to has been brought to my right hon. Friend's notice. The relevant provisions of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, relate to persons who have ceased to serve a local authority in order to undertake war service as therein defined. The resolution seeks to extend these provisions to employees of local authorities who are not on war service as so defined, and my right hon. Friend does not contemplate the introduction of legislation to supplement, in the particular case of local 381W government employees, the provisions of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, 1491, for the administration of which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions is responsible.