§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities he consulted, and what were their recommendations, before he came to the decision to reduce the strength of the Civil Defence Corps.
§ Mr. RossBy agreement with the local authority associations, consultation about the reorganisation of the Civil Defence Corps in Scotland was carried out through the Local Authority Civil Defence Coordinating Committee on which the associations are represented. The Committee recommended a reorganisation on the lines announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 14th December.—[Vol. 738, c. 458–63.]
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people will be affected by the reduction in strength of the Civil Defence Service; and how many of these are in the full-time employment of the Service.
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§ Mr. RossThe reduction in numbers to which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary referred in his statement to the House on 14th December, related to members of the Civil Defence Corps, who are volunteers giving their services on a part-time basis. The active strength of the Corps in Scotland may come down from bout 20,000 at present to about 14.000. It will be for local authorities to consider the staffing implications for their own civil defence departments of the measures outlined in my right hon. Friend's statement. — [Vol. 738, c. 458–63]