Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Defence. – in the House of Commons at on 22 May 1941.
Mr Daniel Lipson
, Cheltenham
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Gloucester County Civil Defence authorities have reduced the supper allowance for first-aid and rescue parties and ambulance drivers, all unpaid and voluntary, from 1s. per night to 6d.; that this action is resented and compares unfavourably with the subsistence allowance of 3s. 6d. per night paid to members of the Home Guard; and will he take steps to enable the Gloucester County Civil Defence authority to restore these allowances?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
If any such reduction were to be made by the local authority, it would be the consequence of a temporary reduction during the months of maximum daylight of the hours of duty of the personnel to a point below that for which, under arrangements approved by my Department, local authorities may provide meals on a grant-aided basis. I am, however, looking further into the matter.
Mr Daniel Lipson
, Cheltenham
Is the Minister aware that at present unpaid voluntary helpers have to serve 12 hours before they get 1s.? Will he reduce the time to nine hours?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
I think there will be some relatively good news for my hon. Friend in an Answer which I am giving to a later Question.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
