§ 4.21 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing on the Paper in the name of my noble friend Lord Faringdon.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether it is their intention to ask from the fire insurance companies any special contributions either now or in the future towards the expenses of the Fire Service since their risks must have been appreciably reduced by the greater efficiency of fire protection due to nationalization.]
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREMy Lords, I have bean asked to reply to this question. One of the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1923 on Fire Brigades and Fire Prevention, and of the Departmental Committee on Fire Brigade Services which reported in 1936, was that the services of fire brigades should be made available to owners and occupiers of property without special charge. Effect was given to this recommendation in Section 5 of the Fire Brigades Act, 1938, subject to the preservation of obligations placed on insurance companies by a few local authorities. The suggestion of the noble Lord that the fire insurance companies should be asked to make further contributions towards the expenses of the Fire Service, would be contrary to the settlement which was accepted after full debate when the Bill was before Parliament, and the Government do not propose to adopt it.