§ 13. Mr. THOMAS COOKasked the Home Secretary the attitude of the Home Office towards the possibility of organising publicly and privately-owned fire brigades with a view to bringing into existence an effective fire-fighting scheme throughout the country?
§ Sir JOHN GILMOURI am in agreement with the view held by previous Secretaries of State, since the report of the Royal Commission on Fire Brigades and Fire Prevention was made, that a more effective service could be provided and expenditure be avoided in some directions, with an improved organisation and more general co-operation among fire brigade authorities throughout the country, for purposes of fire defence. I doubt, however, whether any general scheme could be introduced without further legislation, and I regret that I can see no prospect of the matter being taken up by the Government this Session.