HC Deb 27 March 1947 vol 435 cc1519-20

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 69.—[King's Recommendation signified.]

[Major MILNER in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed,

"That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to make further provision for fire services in Great Britain, to transfer fire-fighting functions from the National Fire Service to brigades maintained by local authorities, to provide for the combination of areas for fire service purposes, to make further provision for pensions and other awards in respect of persons employed in connection with the provision of fire services, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid (in this Resolution referred to as "the Act "), it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament: A. Of any expenses of the Secretary of State incurred—

  1. (i) in making grants to authorities in respect of expenditure in connection with 1520 the provision of fire services, of amounts not exceeding twenty-five per cent. of such expenditure;
  2. (ii) in the provision of instruction in matters relating to fire services;
  3. (iii) in the provision of equipment for purchase by fire authorities for the discharge of their functions under the Act;
  4. (iv) in giving effect to provisions of the Act relating to pensions, allowances and gratuities in respect of service in fire brigades and other service which under the Act is to be reckoned as equivalent to such service, and in making payments to other authorities in respect of liabilities incurred by them for pension purposes, and in the payment of compensation in respect of loss of emoluments or pension;
  5. (v) in defraying expenses of Advisory Councils constituted under the Act;
  6. (vi) in paying remuneration to inspectors, assistant inspectors and other officers appointed under the Act,
and of any administrative expenses of the Secretary of State incurred in giving effect to the Act. B. Of any increase in the sums payable out of moneys provided by Parliament under the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939. the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1946, the enactments relating to the superannuation of persons employed by local authorities, and the Fire Services (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1941, being an increase attributable to the provisions of the Act; and to authorise the payment into the Exchequer of any receipts of the Secretary of State under the Act.—[Mr. Ede.]

Sir John Mellor (Sutton Coldfield)

I am rather surprised that the Government should have brought forward—

It being Ten o'Clock, The CHAIRMAN left the Chair to make his Report to the House.

Committee report Progress; to sit again Tomorrow.