§ Mr. Martinasked the Home Secretary how many hours per week are spent on the average by a fire service unit on marching drill; and whether more useful forms of training or service will be found for men employed in this force?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonNo general rules have been laid down as to the amount of time to be devoted to squad drill by units of the National Fire Service and it would not be possible without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour to obtain data to show the time spent on squad drill over the Service as a whole. I may mention, however, that provision is made in the standard course of training for recruits and the standard refresher course for firemen for half an hour and a quarter of an hour per day respectively to be devoted to squad drill. As regards the second part of the Question, some squad402W drill is essential to a fireman's training for the purpose of developing smartness and accustoming the men to move as disciplined bodies.