HC Deb 07 November 1962 vol 666 cc957-8
18. Mr. Paget

asked the Secretary of State for War what assistance was given by the two fire engines maintained at the Army depot at Weedon in fighting a fire in Weedon that took six hours to get under control and was within 300 yards of the depot.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. John Profumo)

None, Sir.

Mr. Paget

Why not?

Mr. Profumo

The Army fire brigade was neither told of this outbreak nor asked to turn out. If it had been asked to turn out, of course it would have done so.

Mr. Paget

Is the Secretary of State aware that this fire, which took six hours to get under control, was within 300 yards of this Army fire station, which was keeping a continuous watch and employing thirty-six men, and that the officer commanding said, I did hear about the fire but our brigade which has two fire engines, manned 24 hours a day, is for fires inside the depot only. The Army cannot go willy-nilly into things. There are such things as unions and goodness knows what"?

Mr. Profumo

The latter part of the hon. and learned Member's supplementary question is undoubtedly true: there are unions and heaven knows what. I have made inquiries, and I understand that the report attributed to this officer is incorrect.

May I deal with the rest of the supplementary question? I have looked into this matter carefully, and it does not give a fair picture of the situation to say that: the fire took six hours to get under control. I am informed that it broke out at 2.30 and that it was under control by 3.30. The watch kept by the Army fire brigade is not from a watchtower looking out for fires all round. Its personnel sit manning a telephone. [Interruption.]This is perfectly true. Their primary duty is to watch for fires, and this they do, which may occur in stores worth £30 million. As the hon. and learned Member knows perfectly well, the arrangement is that they go to civil fires only if they are called by the local fire brigade. They were not so called.

Mr. Gordon Walker

What would happen if an enemy started a fire? Would all these same processes be gone through?

Mr. Profumo

That would be a different question altogether. I regard anybody who starts a fire as an enemy.