§ 23. Sir Percy Hurdasked the Home Secretary whether he will avert the disintegration of fire services in rural areas by arranging for the calling-up of part-time Auxiliary Fire Service men to be deferred until the reorganisation of fire brigade services is completed?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIn view of the general man-power situation, I would not feel justified in pressing for further deferment of the calling-up of part-time members of the Auxiliary Fire Service who have already registered. The review of the man-power requirements of the Fire Service, including those of rural areas, is, however, being pressed forward as rapidly as possible, and I hope that it will be possible to meet the essential requirements of rural areas by means of part-time personnel in reserved occupations or over military age, supplemented, where necessary, by the posting of additional personnel on a whole-time basis.