§ 52. Mr. Haseldineasked the Secretary of Stale for the Home Department what is the expenditure by Her Majesty's Government on fire losses and fire prevention publicity; and how such expenditure compares with publicity campaigns on crime, strikes, industrial inefficiency and other similar problems which affect the national economy adversely.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsGovernment expenditure this year on fire prevention publicity, which is concerned mainly with fire precautions in the home, will be about £8,500, in addition to grants of £12,000 made for publicity on general safety in the home, including fire safety. Local fire authorities also undertake a great deal of publicity. The main fire losses are in industry, and publicity in this field is undertaken chiefly by the insurance companies, who devote much effort to it and who are represented, together with central and local government, on a special committee of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council dealing with fire prevention publicity and education. Publicity on crime prevention is mainly for the Government, who will spend about £274,000 on it this year. I can give no information on publicity about strikes or industrial inefficiency.