43. Captain Duncanasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that although the Fire Watching Order was issued in the middle of January by the Ministry of Home Security the Army Council's instructions applying the Order to War Department buildings was not 475 issued until the middle of May; and whether he will assure the House that the lack of co-operation between the War Office and another Government Department, shown in this case, will not be repeated?
§ Captain MargessonI am aware that there was some delay in issuing these instructions, although it was not so great as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests, but it should not, of course, be assumed that in the meantime no arrangements for fire prevention had in fact been made at premises occupied by the War Department. The issue of comprehensive instructions that would cover the many types of building in occupation by military or civilian personnel of the War Department, by the Home Guard or by Territorial Army Associations, was necessarily a matter of some complexity, and this factor rather than any lack of co-operation between Government Departments was largely responsible for the delay.
Captain DuncanAs my right hon. and gallant Friend admits there was lack of co-operation, will he see that this sort of thing does not happen again?
§ Captain MargessonI want to make it perfectly clear that there was no lack of co-operation. There was delay, and one wants to do everything one can to see that delays do not recur. As I have said, I want the House to understand that there was no lack of co-operation.
§ Brigadier-General Sir Ernest MakinsCan my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether, in the case of private houses in residential areas being requisitioned for the military, orders are issued to the occupiers to co-operate with the civilian authorities in their district?
§ Captain MargessonI should like to see that Question on the Paper.