asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to see that the recruiting of special constables, especially in rural areas, does not infringe unduly upon the manpower available for other essential services; and what authority is responsible in each county for controlling this aspect of Civil Defence.

Special constables, for whose recruitment in any particular area the chief officer of police is primarily responsible, perform a valuable peace-time service. I have no reason to think that the special constabulary is making a disproportionate demand on the manpower available for part-time service.