§ Mr. Loganasked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the resolution 1085W passed by the Liverpool Watch Committee on 17th February expressing their dissatisfaction with the National Fire Service in that city; and will he see that this service is brought up to a greater standard of efficiency?
§ Mr. MabaneMy right hon. Friend has received a copy of this resolution, expressing dissatisfaction on the part of the Liverpool Watch Committee, with the services rendered in the city by the National Fire Service. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the general state of efficiency of any local unit of the National Fire Service must, at this stage of development, be conditioned by the state of the local fire services when they were transferred from local control. In the case of Liverpool there were many deficiencies to make good, in the matter of training, accommodation and organisation generally of the emergency fire services. I can assure my hon. Friend that special attention has been concentrated on Liverpool and that, continuously, progress is being made by the officers concerned, under the general direction of the Regional Commissioner, towards the establishment of a more satisfactory state of efficiency in the local services.