§ Mr. Ian Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are shortly to be taken to implement the Civil Defence Act in the matter of the designation of Ministers not so far designated.
§ Mr. de FreitasThe arrangements for the implementation of the Civil Defence Act depend only in part on the designation of Ministers. Formal designation orders are not, in practice, made until planning has been carried to a point where designation is required to facilitate executive action. The preparation of plans is in the hands of the Civil Defence Joint Planning Staff, whose chairman is responsible to my right hon. Friend and which contains representatives of all Departments which have, or seem likely to have, Civil Defence functions. So far, the only designation orders which have been made deal with the functions of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Food; orders in respect of the Minister of Works, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of
232W Fuel and Power and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries will shortly be needed, and it is possible that later orders may be needed in respect of other Ministers.
Region Increase during November, 1950 Total Strength at 30 November, 1950 Strength per thousand of population Eastern* … … … … 1,922 9,603 3.17 Southern … … … 1,351 7,435 2.81 South-Eastern* … … … 1,178 7,035 2.77 South-Western … … … 1,293 7,627 2.54 Midland … … … … 1,393 8,152 1.86 Wales … … … … 946 4,723 1.83 Northern … … … … 818 5,717 1.82 North Midland … … … 798 6,126 1.79 London* … … … … 1,773 14,982 1.78 North-Western … … … 2,042 11,059 1.74 North-Eastern … … … 772 5,493 1.34 14,286 87,952 Average for England and Wales 2.02 * The figures for these regions have been adjusted to allow for he inclusion within the London Region of certain county districts in Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey consequent upon the reconstitution, in November, of the London Civil Defence Region with boundaries corresponding to those of the Metropolitan Police district.