HC Deb 31 July 1941 vol 373 cc1559-60W
Mr. Jewson

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that local authorities are being circularised for their support by a body calling itself the National War Emergency Council; and whether he is prepared to sanction the payment by the authorities of the expenses incurred by their delegates in attending meetings of this council?

Mr. E. Brown

Local authorities have from time to time brought to my notice communications they have received about this body and I have advised them that in the opinion of the Government no useful purpose would be served by their joining it. According to my information this body is not representative of local authorities, and I am not prepared to sanction any expenses incurred by local authorities in connection with it. Regular contact is maintained between the Government, both centrally and regionally, and representatives of local authorities and their associations and officers of my Department are attending meetings of a special sub-committee of the Association of Municipal Corporations, which has been set up to consider the problems of towns which have suffered from air raids.