§ Mr. Saltasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the considerable delay which occurs in repairing the damage done to public services and highways following an extensive air-raid, especially in our larger provincial cities, and that this delay much impedes the flow of traffic and hinders the industrial output; and will he seek to obtain a greater number 48W of men from the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps to deal more rapidly with this situation?
§ Mr. MabaneThe position is improving. All practicable steps are being taken to strengthen the civil organisations engaged in this work. The Army have rendered invaluable assistance to the civil authorities in the clearance of debris and repair of air-raid damage: but there are limits to the assistance they can give having regard to their other duties.