§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the complaints made by women fire watchers that they are pestered and molested while proceeding about their duties; and what action he proposes to take to rectify this state of affairs.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI appreciate that women who have to go out at night, whether in connection with fire guard duty or otherwise, may well be apprehensive if they feel that they are liable to molestation, and it would be helpful if any specific cases where this has occurred were reported to the police as soon as possible. My hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that if the police witness acts of molestation or if complaint is made to them by women who are molested appropriate action would be taken by the police. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis that no complaints of the kind indicated in the Question have in fact been so reported.