HC Deb 11 July 1918 vol 108 cc476-7
33. Mr. LAURENCE HARDY

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called to the danger which has arisen through the calling up of the larger number of members of fire brigades throughout the country, especially in the rural districts which depend on small voluntary fire brigades for protection of life and property from fire; whether he is aware that a few able-bodied men are essential for the work of these fire brigades; and whether he will issue instructions that such work should be held to be of such national importance as to justify exemption where regular attendance at the work can be proved?

35. Mr. RENDALL

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that the indefinite replies constantly given to questions asking whether pivotal members of unpaid fire brigades are to be exempted from combatant service, if in Grade 2 under the new Act, are causing doubt and uncertainty in the minds of tribunals; and will be now say definitely that, until the Ministry's representative or the Home Office makes a final decision as to the position of each fire brigade, tribunals will do right in adjourning or exempting all cases where the chief officer of the brigade states to the tribunal that the appellant is a pivotal or essential member of a fire brigade?

Sir A. GEDDES

Instructions have been given to the regional directors of the Ministry to the effect that the National Service representatives are not to oppose before tribunals the exemption of part-time members of fire brigades, certified by the chief officer of the brigade to have satisfactorily performed fire brigade duty during the preceding twelve months and to be essential to the efficiency of the brigade, provided these men are in Grade 3 and over thirty-five years of age, or in Grade 2 and over forty-five National Service representatives have also been instructed to give careful consideration to the cases of men of lower ages in these grades who are of special value to the brigade on account of their exceptional qualifications and long service.