§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent recruitment for Civil Defence is succeeding; what is now the target; how many have enrolled; and what consideration is being given to a changeover of control and administration from town clerks and civil servants to military command.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe strength of the Civil Defence Corps in England and Wales on 31st October, 1957, was 327,326. This was 976 more than twelve months before. Some 45,000 recruits are estimated to have been obtained during the twelve months but most of this increase was off-set by losses due mainly to the discharge of inactive members. No limit has been placed on the number of volunteers that can be accepted at present. The statutory responsibility for making civil defence arrangements in each locality rests with local authorities, and new arrangements for control are being worked out in each civil defence region in consultation with the local authorities concerned. Although the closest liaison is maintained with the military authorities at all levels there is no intention of superseding the civilian control system by military command.