§ 54. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange for all bedding used by fire-watchers and kindred services to be fumigated periodically?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonSo far as concerns fire prevention and other Civil Defence services that are the direct responsibility of local authorities, I think it may reasonably be assumed that the authorities are alive to the importance of suitable preventive measures of the kind which the hon. Member has in mind. So far as concerns persons engaged on fire prevention duties at business premises, the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order places an obligation on the occupier of the premises to provide and maintain proper bedding, and the enforcement of this obligation is a matter for the appropriate authority under the Order.
§ Mr. DaviesWould my right hon. Friend be good enough to call the attention of the local authorities to this problem, so that bedding may be fumigated, to prevent the spread of scabies and other disease?
§ Mr. MorrisonI will consider that point, but my hon. Friend may be comforted by the fact that fire watchers are very active in making complaints if anything is wrong, and I, of course, look into their complaints.