HC Deb 03 July 1941 vol 372 cc1476-7
30. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any statement to make on the question of amending the Fire-Watching Order?

Mr. H. Morrison

Consultations with representatives of employers and the T.U.C. are in progress at the moment.

33. Mr. R. C. Morrison

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to what measures are proposed to secure the more efficient supervision of fire prevention arrangements?

Mr. H. Morrison

Yes, Sir. It has been decided that Regional Commissioners will in future be charged with the general supervision and control of all fire prevention arrangements in their regions, including those for which Government Departments other than the Ministry of Home Security and the Scottish Home Department are the "appropriate authority" It is further proposed that, so far as may be necessary, there will be delegation of responsibility by Government Departments to their local representatives in the regions, so that normally it should be practicable to settle matters locally, and also that there should be in each region a regional council which will include not only representatives of Government Departments, but representatives of employers, of the trades unions and of the local authorities. I am confident that these measures of decentralisation, together with the general power of supervision and control to be vested in Regional Commissioners, will result in increased efficiency and expedition.

Mr. R. C. Morrison

Could my right hon. Friend say what will be the powers or duties of the Regional Councils?

Mr. H. Morrison

Their function will be to review and receive reports, to suggest remedies where deficiencies exist, and so on. Obviously they will not be executive; that must be in the hands of Regional Commissioners and the proper authorities. I think they will be valuable bodies to keep the Regional Commissioners in touch with industrial problems which may arise in the regions.

Mr. Lindsay

Will the Regional Commissioners now be in charge of all the fire-fighting and fire-prevention arrangements?

Mr. H. Morrison

Generally speaking, subject, of course, as the hon. Member will appreciate, to the authority of the Regional Commissioner and what arrangements he may make, it is intended that there shall be that consolidation of all fire-fighting and prevention work under the Deputy Regional Commissioners.