§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment and present membership of fire brigades maintained by local authorities; what is the war-time establishment of the projected National Fire Service; and how many of the latter will be mobilised Royal Air Force reservists 58W and how many members of the Auxiliary Fire Service.
§ Mr. RentonThe establishment and present membership of fire brigades maintained by local authorities in England and Wales are as follows:
—— Establishment Strength Whole-time … 24,616 21,869 Part-time … 18,242 14,349 Auxiliary Fire Service … 72,776 19,180 No war-time establishment for the National Fire Service has been laid down. In an emergency all available members of fire brigades, including auxiliaries, and Royal Air Force Reservists trained in emergency fire-fighting would be mobilised into the National Fire Service.