HC Deb 27 July 1938 vol 338 cc3254-5

Lords Amendment: In page 13, line 38, at the end, insert: (2) Any person who wilfully obstructs or interferes with any member of a fire brigade engaged in operations for the extinction of a fire or the protection or rescue of any person or property from fire shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds

Mr. Lloyd

I beg to move "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This new Sub-section makes it an offence wilfully to obstruct any member of a fire brigade engaged in operations for the extinction of fire.

Subsequent Lords Amendments to page 14, line 15, agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 14, line 22, at the end, insert new Clause B:

Power to exempt trailers used for fire services from traffic restrictions. The Minister of Transport may by regulations provide that in such cases and subject to such conditions as may be specified by the regulations, vehicles used for fire brigade purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of Section eighteen of the Road Traffic Act, 1930 (which restricts the number of trailers to be drawn by motor vehicles) and the provisions of the said Act as to regulations made there-under shall apply in like manner to regulations made under this Section.

Mr. Lloyd

I beg to move "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This new Clause meets a point which arises in connection with air raid fire precautions schemes. Sometimes it may be necessary for a lorry or car to tow two trailers, say two trailer fire pumps or a fire pump and a water tank trailer. This may have to be done not only in war time but in the course of peace time training and practices, and is not admissible under the existing law. It will be desirable for safety conditions to be laid down in detail and it is accordingly proposed to deal with the point by way of regulations to be made by the Minister of Transport.

Subsequent Lords Amendments to page 15, line 11, agreed to.