§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the local authority associations on the changes proposed in the Civil Defence Corps and the Auxiliary Fire Services, which were mentioned in the White Paper on Defence, 1962.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerAfter discussion with the local authority associations and in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister of Health, I am today sending to local authorities a circular detailing the Changes now to be made in the structure of the Civil Defence Corps to make it better able to discharge its rôle of providing a highly-trained nucleus around which a greatly expanded Corps could be organised if needed. The changes include the introduction of specific periods of enrolment and training obligations for volunteers in different categories, and the payment of bounty to those who undertake advanced training during a period of active engagement. Similar arrangements are made for the Auxiliary Fire Service. Copies of the circulars are available in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is introducing similar arrangements for the Civil Defence Corps and Auxiliary Fire Service in Scotland.