HC Deb 10 February 1944 vol 396 cc1890-1
29. Mr. W. H. Green

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the exemption of street party leaders or sector captains from business premises duty applies to business premises situated in the City of London as well as to the Palace of Westminster as stated in the Explanatory Memorandum issued by the Stationery Office.

Mr. H. Morrison

Any person who works at the Palace of Westminster is exempt from fire guard duties there outside his working hours if he is appointed a sector captain by a local authority. Similarly, any person who works in the City of London is exempt from liability to be enrolled for fire guard duties by the Common Council if he is appointed a sector captain by a local authority. In neither of these cases is there a corresponding exemption for street fire party leaders or block leaders.

Mr. Green

Is the Minister aware that it seems somewhat contrary to the undertaking which he gave in the House of Commons, in answer to a Question of mine, stating that street fire captains and sector captains would be exempt from fire duties elsewhere than their residential duties?

Mr. Morrison

I will look that up, but my recollection is that it relates to sector captains. However, I will make sure about it.

35. Sir Irving Albery

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in some cases fire guards using assembly points have arranged their own accommodation and paid the expenses, including heating, lighting, etc., out of their own pockets; that they feel aggrieved that the refund of these expenses is refused; and if he will arrange for a refund to be made where such expenses have fallen upon fire guard personnel in the carrying out of their fire guard duties.

Mr. H. Morrison

The assembly point is only used during alerts or attacks at night, and its purpose then is to ensure that at such times fire guards may know where to report to the street fire party leader or his representative. It is not necessary that an assembly point should be a place indoors, though this is often found convenient. In these circumstances I fear no expenditure from public funds on accommodation for assembly points would be justified.