§ Mrs. McLaughlinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the assistance to be given by his Department in the arrangements for the fire prevention week sponsored by the Fire Protection Association and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, beginning on 30th October this year.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have, in conjunction with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and Minister of Labour, welcomed this campaign in a message drawing attention to the serious destruction of life and property caused by fires and the need for a much wider realisation of the value of fire prevention. I am arranging for fire authorities to be supplied with films and other publicity material suitable for use in conjunction with the campaign, and for the preparation of a short film designed for showing on television.
§ Mrs. McLaughlinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the Annual Report of the Fire Protection Association for 1960 which refers to three fires in which nearly fifty people died and five fires which cost nearly £9,000,000, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Belfast, West; and, in view of Government support for the national fire prevention campaign, sponsored by the Association, whether he will also urge local authorities to support this campaign.
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§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am aware of the contents of the report to which my hon. Friend refers. In answer to the second part of the Question, I understand that the sponsors of the national fire prevention campaign have already written to local fire authorities asking for their support. I have no doubt that the authorities will welcome the objects of this campaign and give whatever help in it they properly can.