§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to introduce machinery to enable prior consultation to take place between national and local officers specifically concerned with home defence matters prior to his proposals being communicated formally to Parliament and to local councils.
§ Mr. MayhewWe do not think there is a need for formal machinery. There is already frequent consultation, and it is our intention that this shall continue.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to require the various local authority associations to hold regular consultations on the subject of home defence.
§ Mr. MayhewWe do not think there is a need for such powers. We regularly consult the local authority associations on all aspects of their civil defence responsibilities, and they are in frequent touch with each other.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to set up a combined research cell and inspectorate to ensure a more satisfactory standard of preparedness in home defence.
§ Mr. MayhewMy right hon. Friend does not feel that such a cell is necessary. He is satisfied with the present arrangements for research, whereby research in the field is undertaken by the scientific advisory branch of the Home Office. He prefers to rely upon regular informal liaison with local authorities rather than formal inspection.