§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the loss of life which may, and does, take place in their absence, he will circularise local authorities advising them to provide all fire brigade stations in their areas, including those operated by retained personnel only, with at least one breathing apparatus set per station.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeIt is for the fire authority to decide at which stations it is necessary to provide breathing apparatus, and I am advised that the need to do so at any particular station will usually depend upon the nature of the fire risk and on the class and size of the property in the district. I have no information to suggest that there has been a failure to make adequate provision of breathing apparatus in any particular area, and I am not aware of any case where loss of life can be attributed to the absence of the apparatus. There are, therefore, no grounds which would justify me in advising fire authorities that breathing apparatus should be provided at all stations without regard to local circumstances.