FUTURE ORGANISATION OF THE FIRE SERVICE. Memorandum by the Home Secretary

Parliament, The representatives -2- a decision of the Government to that effect. of the County Councils have not claimed any share in the administration of the future Fire Service, but there is no reason to think that they would oppose a desire expressed on behalf of the Government that they should come into the picture. (County Councils already have the powers of fire authorities in Scotland). 4. In the course of the Conferences which the Home Secretary in the Coalition Government had with the local authorities' representatives, they accepted, in principle, the proposition tat in the new Service there ought to be (a) a general understanding as to the standards of Fire Service cover to be provided, according to the varying degrees of risk; (b) a training system with a Fire Service College; (c) a system of ranks and general standards of qualifications for appointments and promotions; a disciplinary system; a measure of standardisation of equipment, but not so as to stereotype appliances too far, and a planned programme of production; (e) (d) (f) a central staff, and a central system of inspection.