§ 102. Mr. Hobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of regular fire officers previously employed by local authorities who were called up for service in the Armed Forces and now, on being demobilised, have been given a reduced rank in the N.F.S. in the London region.
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§ Mr. EdeThe considerable contraction of the National Fire Service during the last two years has involved a large reduction in the officer establishment and numerous reductions in rank were therefore unavoidable. For this purpose the case of every officer in the service was individually reviewed. This process has been applied also to those officers reinstated after demobilisation, but before the review takes place each officer is given a refresher course and a period of at least six months operational experience, and during this period the officer retains his former rank. Up to the present the number of men reinstated after demobilisation in ranks above fireman who have, on subsequent review, been reduced in rank is 23.