§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the proposal by certain firms to secure contributions from members of their staff towards the cost of the employment of fire-watchers; whether he will take action to stop this; and whether he has fully consulted the trades unions respecting the operation of fire-watching schemes as affecting employés?
§ Mr. Mabane:I take it my hon. Friend is referring to fire-bomb fighters. There is nothing in the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order to authorise a charge being levied upon persons working at the premises to which the order applies so as to absolve them from the performance of duties which they may otherwise be required to undertake. I am not aware of any specific case of this character but it should be clearly recognised by those who contemplate making any arrangement for payment that they may still be required to undertake fire-prevention duties under the Civil Defence Duties (Compulsory Enrolment) Order. They would be free from this obligation if they performed the duties on the premises at which they were employed. I hope that a realisation of the position will make it unnecessary for my right hon. Friend to amend the Order. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the House on 6th February.