asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if administrative officers of the N.F.S. who are to be taken over by new county and county borough authorities will be guaranteed posts of at least equal salaries to those they now hold.

Discussions are proceeding with a view to securing the best practicable arrangements, but I regret that it is not possible to give such a guarantee.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not give an assurance that these men can face the future with confidence under the new set-up? Many of them are very concerned about what is likely to happen, and they have rendered very good service in the National Fire Service.

I am in negotiation with individual county councils and county boroughs with a view to getting these men absorbed. I will do the very best I can for them.