§ Mr. Footasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a considerable number of local authorities pay to their employés who are members of the Reserve or Auxiliary Forces their full civil pay in addition to their service pay and allowances during the period of their annual training; and whether he will make provision, in any further or amending order made under the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act, 1939, whereby local authorities may make similar payments during a period equivalent to that of such annual training in the case of employés 1136W who are members of the Reserve or Auxiliary Forces and are called out under that Act?
§ Mr. BernaysI understand that the practice of local authorities in regard to the matter mentioned in the first part of the question varies. As regards the second part, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to accept the hon. Member's suggestion that the Order-in-Council should be amended, but I may point out that there is nothing in the Order to prevent a local authority, in the exercise of its discretion, paying full civil pay in respect of so much of the period of calling out for service as is to be regarded as part of the man's normal annual leave.