Commercial Buildings (Night Watching)

56.

 Sir George Broadbridge
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that under the Civil Defence Act tenants, not landlords, of commercial buildings are under obligation to provide a night fire-watching party as well as at week-ends while their staffs number 30 or more, and that, as it is impossible for them to do  this in addition to providing fire-guards during business hours, what steps he proposes to overcome this obligation which has proved difficult to work?

Sir J. Anderson
I think there is some misunderstanding. The Civil Defence Act does not require employers to provide fire-watching parties. The danger of fires from incendiary bombs is, however, so great that every possible step should be taken to prevent a small fire from spreading and becoming a serious conflagration; and as fires might occur at times when the staff employed in the building were not there, it is important that a few trained men should, at any rate in the more vulnerable areas, be on the premises always. I hope, therefore, that employers will co-operate with the fire brigade services by night as well as by day, not only for the protection of their own premises, but also for the benefit of the community.