HL Deb 18 March 1970 vol 308 cc1133-4
LORD CHORLEY

My 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 whether they will state when the Report of the Holroyd Committee on the Fire Service will be published.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the Committee has not completed its Report, but I understand that it hopes to do so shortly. There will be no avoidable delay in publishing the Report.

LORD CHORLEY

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, I should like to ask him whether he recollects that it is now over three years since this Committee was appointed, and that very recently the Fire-fighter, which is the official organ of the Fire Brigades' Union, has referred to the state of stagnation which is resulting from what they describe as "hanging on to Holroyd"? Further, is the noble Lord aware that the 1969 figures for fire losses touched the new black peak of £120 million In all these circumstances, does he not feel that the Government ought to press for publication of the Committee's Report?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the Chairman of the Committee is well aware of the importance of early publication of this Report, but it is not, of course, open to the Government to dictate to the Chairman of a Committee of this kind when it shall actually complete its labours. But in view of the recent serious fires that we have had, I am sure that the Chairman is doing all he can to expedite publication.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend this question? When the Holroyd Committee was appointed, the fire authorities were a certain type of local authority—county councils or county boroughs. In view of the Maud Report, which will redistribute the responsibility for the Fire Service, will the Committee add a postscript to its recommendations bringing them up to date in the light of this new change?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the Holroyd Committee was invited to give its views on this aspect of the matter to the Royal Commission. This it did, and both the Committee and the Commission have taken these affairs into consideration.