NEW FIRE GUARD ORDERS

HC Deb 29 July 1943 vol 391 cc1763-4

40. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Home Secretary when the new Fire Guard Orders will be signed?

42. Sir John Mellor

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement on the present position as regards the new Fire Guard Orders?

Mr. H. Morrison

I signed the new Orders yesterday, and they will be published with a full explanatory memorandum in the week commencing Monday, 9th August. In order to give time to the authorities and occupiers concerned to make the necessary readjustments in their arrangements, the Orders will not come into force until 20th September.

Mr. Smith

Can the Home Secretary say whether the observations made in the last Debate were taken into consideration before these Orders were drawn up, and, if not, would he be good enough to give consideration to them before the Orders are debated in the House?

Mr. Morrison

The points that were raised in the Debate have been taken into consideration, and indeed many of them had been taken into consideration before they were actually made in debate.

Sir H. Williams

I take it that the right hon. Gentleman appreciates that there are now only a few Sitting Days available during which an opportunity can be sought to discuss Orders set down for consideration?

Mr. Morrison

Certainly, I think the Government are under an obligation to provide facilities for the Prayer, and, indeed, I do not think we have any option. We would not wish to exercise it if we had, and we will certainly bear that in mind.