§ 78. Mr. Sharplesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is proposed that the 145 local authorities, excluding the Greater London Council, will be free to deal direct with the Home Office when regional and sub-regional Civil Defence headquarters have been closed down.
§ Mr. EnnalsYes.
§ 79. Mr. Sharplesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the Government's decision to disband the Civil Defence Corps but retain the warning monitoring system, he will ensure that sufficient scientific intelligence officers are maintained, so that in the event of the Civil Defence Corps being reactivated experienced and trained people will be immediately available to interpret information given by the warning monitoring organisation to the Civil Defence Corps.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy right hon. Friend intends to ensure that local authorities 249W can preserve a core of knowledge and experience of the scientific as well as other aspects of civil defence.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what personnel of the Civil Defence Corps, the Auxiliary Fire Service, and the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, Category III, are to continue training in Leicestershire, and where, and at what cost to public funds.
§ Mr. EnnalsMost local authorities will have ceased all training of the Civil Defence Corps and the Auxiliary Fire Service by 31st March, and if the regulations now before the House are approved, these services will be disbanded on that date. As regards T. & A.V.R. III, I would refer the hon. Member to the speech made by my hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Administration on 6th March in a debate on the Territorial Army.