§ MR. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a lecture recently delivered by Mr. Davis, late Chief Officer of the Margate Fire Brigade, on the subject of making fire escapes available, under police direction, during the daytime as well as at night; whether he is aware that the system recommended by Mr. Davis has been successfully carried into effect in Liverpool and other places; and whether he will consider the desirability of adopting, or recommending for adoption, the same method for the Metropolis of London?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH, Fife, E.)The subject of making fire escapes available under police direction has frequently been, and is now, under the consideration of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Police Authorities. The case of Liverpool is not an analogous one, as the Fire Brigade in that city consists of members of the Police Force. The duties of the Metropolitan Police are so arduous that, without a large increase in the number of the Force, I doubt whether they can properly be called upon to render more assistance to the Fire Brigade than they at present give?