§ Mr. Ian Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to make a report on the experience gained through the prototype Civil Defence mobile column.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeThe Civil Defence experimental mobile rescue column has provided the answers to a considerable number of operational and administrative problems, and these will be embodied, in due course, in a manual of instructions for the organisation, training and employment of mobile rescue columns. In the course of some six months of touring, through England, Scotland and Wales, it has been able to cooperate with the local authorities in many parts of the country in the holding of 327W comprehensive exercises, which, besides their value for training, have provided valuable publicity for Civil Defence. Further experience however, is desirable to broaden the basis upon which final conclusions can be based. I am therefore glad to be able to report that, with the much appreciated co-operation of the Service Departments, I hope to continue the arrangements during the coming year.