§ Mr. Dumpletonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is 2322W aware that the Fire Service Department have proposed to local authorities that air-raid sirens be used for calling in part-time firemen; and whether, in view of the widespread public distress and dissatisfaction which such a proposal would cause, he will give immediate instructions for it to be withdrawn.
§ Mr. EdeFull consideration was given to the possibility of public dissatisfaction before it was decided to authorise the use of air-raid sirens for this purpose. I am, of course, aware of the relief which most people felt at getting rid of the noise of air-raid sirens and I agree that it would have been wrong to use the "alert" signal. The signal given will, however, in all cases be similar to that of the "raiders passed," and my information is that in most cases people in the areas concerned recognize the value of this means of calling out part-time firemen and do not object to its use, which is of course very infrequent.