§ 9. Mr. Edgar Granvilleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the serious damage to the war effort by fires, the causes of which have been traced to the careless disposal of lighted cigarette ends; and if he will make a special appeal for greater caution in order to prevent the destruction of buildings, crops and haystacks in special areas.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI attach great importance to the public realising the danger of fires due to carelessness. I therefore welcomed the decision taken last year by the Fire Offices Committee to carry out a national publicity campaign on this subject. Encouraging results have been obtained from this campaign and as the result of the measures taken by the Government Departments which are responsible for fire prevention at premises concerned with the war effort. Special leaflets have been distributed to farm premises urging the need for avoiding all unnecessary fire risks.
§ Mr. GranvilleWill the right hon. Gentleman emphasise the need for still further caution; and can he say why it was that a haystack or thatched roof was allowed to burn down in Trafalgar Square, under the nose of the Fire Prevention Department of the Home Office?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is perfectly clear that, when a haystack catches fire in Trafalgar Square or anywhere else, it will burn very quickly. I understand that the National Fire Service was rapidly on the job, but the haystack beat them in the race.