asked the Home Secretary whether he can now say when he proposes to make the appointments for the Fire Service Commission and Central Advisory Board for Fire Services in England; and if, apart from the chairman, any members have been selected for either of these bodies?

I hope to announce the constitution of the commission shortly.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to consult the Joint Council of the British Fire Services or any other fire-service body as to the constitution of the Fire Service Commission and the Central Advisory Board for Fire Services; and how far these bodies will be composed of members who have had practical fire-brigade experience?

As stated on the 8th instant in reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wallasey (Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon) I am proposing to take an early opportunity of consulting the associations representing fire authorities regarding the constitution and proceedings of the Central Advisory Council for Fire Services, under Section 18 of the Fire Brigades Act, 1938, and it is also my intention to ask bodies representative of the Fire Service to nominate representatives to the Council. Similar consultation has not been necessary in connection with the appointment of the Fire Service Commission.

TABLE I.
Number of appointments to posts above the rank of Inspector annually since 1928.
Ranks.	1928.	1929.	1930.	1931.	1932.	1933.	1934.	1935.	1936.	1937.	1938 from 1.1.38 to 9.12.38.
Inspectors (Uniform and 2nd Class C.I.D.) to S.D. Inspector and 1st Class C.I.D. Inspector.	29	52	32	41	34	53	68	49	41	32	64
S.D. Inspector and 1st Class C.I.D. Inspectors to Chief Inspector.	6	21	6	9	10.	26	32	17	19	21	29
Chief Inspectors to Superitendent.	3	13	1	6	7	11	11	7	9	6	11
Superintendent to Chief Constable.	—	1	—	—	2	2	2	1	5	—	4
Totals	38	87	39	56	53	92	112	74	74	159	108

TABLE 2.
Number of Junior Station Inspectors appointed annually since 1933.
1933	…	…	…	Nil.
1934	…	…	…	61
1935	…	…	…	32
1936	…	…	…	30
1937	…	…	…	59
1938	…	…	…	15
Total	…	…	…	197

Of this number 46 are now station inspectors, and three of those appointed in 1934 were promoted in 1938 to the rank of sub-divisional inspector. These three are included in the 64 promotions to this rank shown in Table 1.