§ Lady Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the Middlesex Fire Brigade 164W is undermanned, bearing especially in mind its added responsibilities since the passing of the factories, shops and offices Acts, and the increasing difficulty in getting recruits of the right qualifications to deal adequately with these and other duties; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Middlesex Fire Brigade is at present 185 men short of its whole-time establishment of 1,457. This establishment includes posts created on account of the fire prevention duties placed on fire authorities by the Factories Act, 1959, and I am informed that it would have to be reviewed if any further statutory duties for fire prevention fell to the authority. This is one of the areas where recruitment is especially difficult, but I know that the fire authority are doing all they can to remedy the shortage.