asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the shortage of skilled plumbers required for reconstruction work and bomb-damage repairs, he will now release men in this trade who are serving in the N.F.S.

I hope it will be possible shortly to make available for other employment a substantial proportion of the plumbers at present serving in the National Fire Service.

While I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply, can he say what he means by "shortly," because this repair work is being held up purely through a shortage of plumbers?

No, Sir; I cannot say precisely what is meant by "shortly," but we will get on with it as quickly as we can.