§ 24. Mr. Toucheasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware some fire brigades are purchasing their motor accessories at trade prices, while other fire brigades pay nearly full retail prices; and whether, in view of the large purchases made by the fire services, he will secure that all fire brigades obtain the most economic prices?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI am aware that there is some disparity in the prices paid by the various fire authorities for motor accessories, and, as regards vehicles required for emergency fire brigade purposes, I am considering the possibility of arranging for the central purchase of such items as motor tyres, inner tubes and sparking plugs.
§ 25. Mr. Toucheasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in some districts members of the Auxiliary Fire Service received increases in pay and an extra supply of uniforms at an earlier date to that on which regular members of the fire services received similar concessions; and whether he will take steps to avoid this anomaly in the future?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe concessions to which my hon. Friend refers applied to the Auxiliary Fire Service, whose conditions of service are settled nationally. Changes in the conditions of the Auxiliary Fire Service do not necessarily involve similar changes in the conditions of regular firemen, whose rates of pay and other conditions of service, including issues of uniform, are controlled by the responsible local fire authorities. It is for these authorities to review the rates of pay of their firemen as occasion may require.
§ Mr. R. GibsonHas this particular service a trade union which takes up these matters?
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir, there is a fire brigades' union which has certain regulative relationships with the local authorities whose men belong to it.