asked the Home Secretary in view of the fact that houses in London were recently gutted by fire because the owners had gone away and had had the water cut off, and therefore when the available sand had been used up there was nothing on the premises with which to put out the fire, whether he will make it compulsory for owners of empty houses to leave water in baths and other receptacles in order to enable fires to be fought in their earlier stages?

Recommendations to this effect have already been issued, and I am examining what further action is possible.

Is there not an obligation on the owners of empty houses to give their keys to the air-raid warden?

There is no obligation, and there are difficulties about making it a statutory obligation. But it is encouraged, and we have made recommendations. I am not happy about the situation, and I am considering what further action can be taken.

While considering the matter, will the right hon. Gentleman examine at the same time the alternative of giving compulsory powers to local authorities in order that they may enter such houses to take the necessary precautions?

I am considering that also.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to fire-watchers in the long evenings by the operation of the Business Premises Fire watching Order, which enacts that watchers must be provided at all times outside business hours; and whether, in view of the fact that during the hours of daylight the risk of enemy action is almost negligible, and that there are people in the streets who would observe the outbreak of any fire, he will consider amending the Order to read between the hours of black-out instead of at all times, in order that large numbers of fire-watchers may be released, and thus enabled in many cases to work in their gardens and allotments?

I think that without amending the Order effect can be given to an appreciable extent to the suggestion made by the hon. Member, which had already been under consideration by my Department in consultation with the Fire Prevention Executive. Appropriate instructions on the matter are being issued by the Department responsible for the administration of the Order.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the alterations are likely to be?

No, Sir, not without notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is laid down by regulation whether, in the case of fire watching, the home or business premises should come first with any employé who may be called on for service?

A person who has obligations under the Business Premises Order is exempt from fire prevention duties in the area of his local authority under Article 4 (7) of the Compulsory Enrolment Order.

Would there be any objection to an employé splitting up the 48 hours a month as to half at his place of business and half at his home?

If that were mutually convenient, there would be no objection as far as we are concerned.

asked the Home Secretary what proposals he has in mind for reorganising fire-watching arrangements?

I am not at present contemplating any major changes in the general arrangements envisaged by the Fire Prevention Regulations and Orders. Improvements in details are continually under examination.

In making these improvements in detail, will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the very curious state of affairs, to which it is as well not to refer in public, which has arisen in regard to fire watching at the Palace of Westminster?

Yes. I am not Ministerially responsible for that, but I have been taking an active interest and have been bringing my influence to bear for many weeks past.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement in a week, or two weeks?

No, there is no statement to make.

In the event of a house being empty and the key not being available, would not either the firemen or the wardens be justified in bursting the house open?

Yes, and that is done, but it takes time. It is one of the most difficult pieces of administration that it is possible to imagine, but I can assure the House that there is no self-satisfaction about it. We are constantly considering it, but the point to which the hon. Member has referred is one of the difficulties.