HC Deb 03 April 1941 vol 370 c1179W
Mr. Salt

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that nearly every practising veterinary surgeon in the country has for some months been giving his services free to the National Air-Raid Precautions Animals Committee in order to assist in the development of an air-raid precautions service for animals throughout the country to make available professional advice to all animal lovers in emergency; and whether he will officially recognise these veterinary surgeons as members of the official Civil Defence organisation and facilitate in every way the development of the organisations for which they' are responsible in their own localities?

Mr. H. Morrison

As regards the attitude of the Government towards air-raid precautions for animals, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 2nd April. While greatly appreciating the work which has been done voluntarily by veterinary surgeons, I can see no advantage in adding to the labours of the local authorities or diminishing the responsibility of the veterinary surgeons by putting them under the supervision of the former, as would be necessary if they were formally included in the local authorities' Civil Defence organisation.