§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow metropolitan fire authorities to distribute and install smoke alarms free of charge. [26312]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerFire authorities are not required to obtain the permission of my right hon. and learned Friend to distribute and install smoke alarms free of charge. But it has recently been suggested that there may 129W be a legal impediment to this practice. The Department is currently looking into this.