§ Lieut.-Colonel Macnamaraasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the numbers of paid air-raid precautions workers, telephonists, etc., who stay, day in and day out, in report centres, etc., with nothing to do; and whether he will consider recognising that the Royal Air Force can rule the air by day, and take such extensive and expensive full-time precautions by night only?
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§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe present freedom from air attack by day does not necessarily imply that there is no need for nucleus staffs to be maintained for civil defence services, which must be able to come into operation at very short notice; and during the hours of standing-by much useful training and work of a routine character can be done. This nucleus strength is reinforced as required by part-time volunteers, many of whom are, except in an emergency, available only outside their normal working hours. In this way the object in view is largely achieved. Such staffing will, of course, continue to be the subject of review from time to time.