§ 19. Mr. Lewisasked the Home Secretary whether since the passing of the Fire Brigades Act, 1938, any approach has been made by his Department to the fire insurance companies with a view to ascertaining whether they would he willing to make a voluntary contribution to the cost of research into fire-fighting problems?
§ Sir S. HoareI would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made in this House on behalf of the Government on 27th July last, during the final stages of the Fire Brigades Bill, to the effect that the insurance interests have already undertaken to make a payment of £600,000 to be allocated as the Government may decide. Of this contribution, approximately £317,000 has already been 349 disbursed to eight local authorities in pursuance of arrangements made while the Fire Brigades Bill was before Parliament. The balance of the £600,000 will be received from the insurance interests in the course of the next 18 months, and will be available for purposes of general benefit to the Fire Service, including research into fire fighting problems. As stated in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Chatham (Captain Plugge) on 15th December last, preliminary discussions have taken place regarding the arrangements for the establishment of a fire research centre.