§ 05. Dr. Winstanleyasked the Prime Minister if he will arrange that measures similar to those being taken to amalgamate police forces shall be taken to amalgamate the fire services and ambulance services in the same areas.
§ The Prime MinisterThe future organisation of these services is being kept under review but, as I am sure the hon. Member appreciates, it does not necessarily follow that arrangements appropriate to the police will prove right for them.
§ Dr. WinstanleyWill the Prime Minister not agree that these three services are very much interdependent and that they are also very frequently required to act jointly? Is he not aware that under the present systems, difficulties arise due, for example, to the three services using different radio wavelengths and frequencies between one area and another? Would not substantial benefits accrue if the three services were administered so as to be responsible for identical areas?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree that the three services work very closely together and have to be integrated in their operation to a considerable extent. The reason for my right hon. Friend's decision on police forces is the fact that we are trying to combat crime which is now organised on a basis far transcending local government and even regional boundaries. That raises different questions with regard to the fire and ambulance services. No doubt the Royal Commissions will be looking at these questions. If we felt, earlier than their reports, that further action should be taken, we should take it.