§ 25. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the danger of loss of life and property by fire that will occur if the fire brigades in provincial cities and boroughs are left without sufficient staffs of skilled and experienced firemen; whether the tribunals have power to exempt men who are indispensable to the proper working of fire brigades; and, if not, whether instructions will be given that fire brigades are not to be entirely depleted of competent firemen?
§ Mr. BECKI would refer my hon, Friend to my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Southwark on the 4th July on this subject. The Ministry of National Service is fully alive to the importance of maintaining the efficiency of fire brigades in provincial cities and boroughs, Tribunals have power to grant exemption to men employed by fire brigades if valid applications are made to them in accordance with the Regulations, and men solely employed in connected with public fire 25 brigades are, subject to certain conditions of age and fitness, included in the list of certified occupations.