HC Deb 10 August 1905 vol 151 cc941-3
MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Cork County, N.E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the circumstances attending a fire which occurred in Fermoy on July 27th, and to the correspondence between the urban council and Colonel Amber, commanding the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, with regard to the failure of the military fire brigade to render prompt assistance on the occasion; if he is aware that, although the aid of the military was requested before two o'clock a.m., fully an hour elapsed before the fire brigade arrived at the scene of the fire, and when subsequently the urban council called attention to this delay they were informed that garrison fire engines are kept for the protection of Government property, and that the request for any explanation was an impertinence; if he will state whether the assistance of the military in garrison towns in cases of fire, hitherto readily and promptly afforded, has been limited or restricted by the issue of any recent regulations; and, if not, whether he will explain the cause of the delay which occurred in Fermoy.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

Military arrangements for dealing with fire in barracks or their neighbourhood are, in accordance with the King's Regulations, fixed by local regulations made by the general officer commanding concerned. I have no information, therefore, on the particular matter alluded to in the Question.

MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM

asked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that more than an hour elapsed after it was asked for before the fire engine arrived on the scene.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

said he had not seen the report.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

Is it not a reasonable thing to inquire into the circumstances of a case like this?

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

I think inquiries should in the first place be made of the commanding officer, and if there has been any dereliction of duty it can be investigated.

MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire?

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

No; it is for the aggrieved person to do that.

MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea)

Is it not desirable that for military and civil purposes the authorities should help one another?

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

Yes; and that has always been done and was done on this occasion.