§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the representations from the Llanelly Rural District Council calling his attention to the effect upon the enrolment of persons for the fire watchers' schemes of the enrolment of the same persons with the Home Guard; and what action he is taking in the matter?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonYes, Sir. Owing however to the shortage of man-power for part-time service, recruiting for the Home Guard and the Civil Defence services must, at times, be at the expense of the local authority's fire guard; but the instructions issued by the Ministry of Labour and National Service provide that in such cases regard should be paid to any348W deficiency in the number of fire guards at the disposal of local authorities when directions are being issued for part-time duty in other services.
§ Mr. Naylorasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider, in substitution for the present plan of street fire-watching, in which hundreds of thousands of persons of both sexes are engaged in hours of night-watching, a new arrangement for London, and other adaptable areas, whereby each street party section will be detailed for duty for one whole night or less without being called upon to turn out for duty unless and until the air-raid warning is sounded or gun-fire is heard?
§ Mr. MorrisonAs explained in Air Raid Precautions Handbook No. 14 the details of organisation of street fire parties in a particular area depend upon local factors which vary considerably. Normally all the members on duty remain indoors during "all clear" periods. One member acts as watcher for his party or as key watcher for several parties; he must be awake and dressed but he remains indoors, until he hears an "alert" or gunfire, or other warning of the approach of hostile aircraft. He then warns the other members on duty: these may still stay indoors in readiness until summoned, by whistle or otherwise, to turn out.