LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the expanding and increasing amount of fire prevention legislation and responsibilities which is being placed upon fire authorities, what action they are taking to ensure that the requisite finance is provided to local authorities to enable fire brigades satisfactorily and efficiently to carry out their statutory functions.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, local authorities receive a contribution towards the running of their fire services through the rate support grant; and any additional expenditure which they need to incur as fire prevention work increases is reflected in their estimates and in the grant.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. May I assume that we can look forward to a Bill in the immediate future dealing with fire prevention, and, if any such scheme is undertaken and such Bill is planned, that the appropriate bodies, such as the Fire Brigades Union, will be consulted?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I anticipate that there will be a Bill, the Fire Precautions Bill, during the course of this Parliamentary Session. That will involve a certain amount of extra work, and I can assure my noble friend that there is consultative machinery which can be used and will be used in the way he suggests.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord very much indeed for his replies, which are satisfactory. What I should like to know—and I am sorry to ask without notice—is whether he can tell me how many fire authorities have fire prevention officers on their fire staffs.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I understand that they all have fire prevention officers on their staffs. I cannot break down the figures, but the total establishment for England and Wales on December 31, 1968, was 1,223. In addition, it is now the increasing practice to use firemen for inspectorate work, they being on call with various radio aids at their disposal.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, when I raised the question of the Fire Service in the House some time ago, I was told that a Departmental Committee was sitting and that it would report in the autumn. Can my noble friend say when that report is likely to be issued?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot answer offhand the noble Lord's question. I do not know which Committee he means, but I will let him know the answer.