§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the standard hourly working week of firemen; what is the weekly rate of wages paid; at what stage are overtime rates payable; and what is the nature of such overtime rates.
§ Mr. MaclayI have no power to regulate the pay and allowances or the hours of duty of members of fire brigades in Scotland; these are matters within the province of the National Joint Council of Local Authorities' Fire Brigades. I understand that hours of duty of operational members of fire brigades vary at present but most commonly total 56 a week; that the pay of an operational member of the rank of firemen, recommended by the National Joint Council, ranges from £575 to £700 a year; and that, subject to certain conditions, the overtime allowance payable to a fireman is at the rate of 6s. an hour.