§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to relieve local authorities of their statutory obligations to provide effective fire protection, as laid down through the Fire Services Act 1947.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNone. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made to the House on 9th November [Vol. 938, c. 672–3]—about the arrangements which the Government have made to assist fire authorities to provide the best fire cover possible in the circumstances.
§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost of carrying out statutory duties relating to fire prevention and precautions if these were not undertaken by the fire brigades.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI regret that such a calculation cannot be made on the information currently available, although a sample survey of expenditure in seven fire authority areas conducted in 1976, giving a breakdown of expenditure on all aspects of fire brigade activity, including fire prevention, is at present being analysed.