§ Sir T. Cookasked the Home Secretary whether he will make representations to the railway companies seeking an assurance that, in the event of national emergency, employés who are members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade shall be at liberty for service with their divisions for the purpose of air-raid precautions?
§ Mr. LloydMy right hon. Friend has been in communication with the railway companies regarding the possibility of their employés joining local authority A.R.P. services. Many railway employés are, of course, trained in first aid duties, but the requirements of railway operation in emergency may well be such that the companies will be unable to release their personnel for other duties during working hours. Subject to this consideration I am informed that the companies have no objection to members of their staffs volunteering for service with a local authority.
§ Sir T. Cookasked the Home Secretary whether he will state the position of members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade who are also special constables in relation to air-raid precautions?
§ Mr. LloydA special constable whose Chief Constable may think that his services are not likely to be required for duty as such may be enrolled in another air-raid precautions service. He would not then be called upon to do special constabulary duty in emergency, and would not have the powers of a special constable in performing his other duties.