§ Mr. Bostonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration he has been giving to the possible need for further safety precautions to protect industrial and other monuments since the recent fire at Chatham Dockyard; what extra safeguards are needed; and what steps he is taking to have these carried out.
§ Mr. BoydenSafety precautions in Ministry of Defence premises of historic interest are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. The requirements in comparable buildings in my right hon. Friend's charge are kept under constant review and periodical inspections are made by the Ministry's Fire Officers. To ensure close co-operation between the two Ministries on fire matters generally, a Standing Committee on Fire Precautions was recently set up. The report on the Chatham fire will be examined in that Committee.