55. Mr. Astorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now considered the representations made to him regarding the need for simplifying the system of reporting fires; and whether he can make a statement.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonUnder the Fire Guard Plan the responsibility for deciding whether the National Fire Service should be summoned to a fire rests with the street fire party leader or block leader, who is on the spot and is in the best position to judge the fire situation. I am considering suggestions for the simplification of the form of message to be used by these officers for summoning the National Fire Service. These arrangements have been supplemented in London by a system of direct reports by observers specially posted by the National Fire Service.
Mr. AstorIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the present system has proved cumbersome and that there is unnecessary delay in getting the N.F.S. to a fire, because of the bureaucratic type of machinery? Could he not consider simplifying it, in the same way as he would like to simplify the procedure of Parliament?
§ Mr. MorrisonI will not claim that everything is perfect, but I think that my hon. Friend's observations are a hit sweeping.