§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate for the United Kingdom of the cost in a full financial year of reducing hours in the fire service to 40 per week; and what is his estimate of the additional firemen required.
§ Dr. SummerskillI understand that the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades has under consideration the resumption of discussions 367W on the feasibility of a 40-hour week for the fire service in the light of the Government's White Paper "The Attack on Inflation". Pending the outcome of the council's deliberations it would he premature to attempt to estimate the cost or manpower implications of a 40-hour week.