§ MR. WOOTTON ISAACSON (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the expediency of making arrangements with Captain Shaw (Chief of the Fire Brigade) to provide for a continuous attendance of men with fire escapes, so as to avoid, as much as possible, the lamentable and fatal results which occurred at the Edgware Road and Wigmore Street fires?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have communicated with the Chief of the Fire Brigade on this matter; and he informs me that, with the present number of firemen in the Brigade, it would not be possible to provide a continuous attendance of men with fire escapes; but the suggestion of my hon. Friend is a valuable one, and will, no doubt, engage the attention of the new authority in which the control of the Brigade will shortly be vested.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)asked, whether, in the right hon. Gentleman's opinion, this great city should be left exposed to a risk of loss of life, which they now knew was not speculative, from recent calamities between now and the appointment of the new authorities?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, he would be extremely happy to supply any remedy for the undoubted shortcomings as compared with the needs of the Metropolis, but he had no means to do so without legislation.
§ MR. WOOTTON ISAACSONsaid, that £5,000 would cover the whole of the expense necessary.