asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not initiate a scheme to enable firemen to have six months leave of absence to pay to attend a Government training school to fit them for skilled employment in their off-duty periods, so as to enable them to earn an additional wage, without contravening the 10 per cent. guidelines.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) on 1st December—[Vol. 940, c. 315]—on the conditions on which firemen may undertake part-time work. Matters of this kind are for the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades.