79. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authority fire service schemes have now been submitted to him for approval; what is the manpower and cost involved; and what were the comparable figures of manpower and expenditure on fire prevention in these areas in 1938.
§ Mr. EdeSchemes have been submitted by every fire authority except one and on the basis of these schemes it is estimated that the operational requirements of the fire brigades will be approximately 18,000 whole-time and 19,00o part-time men. It is not yet possible to make an accurate estimate of the cost. As explained in the answer which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend on 16th December last, statistics in respect of 1938 are not available.