§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will reconsider his recent ruling approving small burghs appointing up to 30 per cent. of their complement of auxiliary firemen as full-time employés, the whole of whose wages is paid by the State, while such authorities who avoid employing full-time personnel are refused any grant towards the payment of part-time staff while actually engaged on fire duties, even where such staff may lose their regular wages during such duty?
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§ Mr. ColvilleI think my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. No such ruling as that referred to has been given. He will be glad to know that it has now been decided that local authorities shall be empowered to compensate part-time civil defence volunteers for any loss of remunerative time actually incurred when called up for duty during working hours subject to certain maxima and that expenditure by local authorities in this connection shall be wholly reimbursed by the Exchequer.