§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what training is being given to Service men in Northern Ireland in the use of anti-smoke breathing equipment normally used by civilian firemen.
§ Dr. GilbertService men in Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, are not being trained in the use of anti-smoke breathing equipment. Although the use of breathing equipment would protect a fire fighter from noxious fumes, there are other dangers inherent in operating in smoke-filled buildings with which only fully trained expert fire fighters could cope. 70 professional, specialist Royal Navy and Royal Air Force firemen have been deployed to Northern Ireland as a result of the firemen's dispute, and a number of breathing apparatus kits are being made available from Service sources for operation by these trained Service firemen.
§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the extra cost to the Armed Forces of the measures taken to provide protection against fire to the general public up to Thursday 17th November.
§ Mr. MulleyRecords are being kept of the extra costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence for assistance during the firemen's strike, but it is not possible to make any final estimates at this stage.
§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the whole cost of the protection against fire given to the public by Service men during the firemen's strike will be met from the Defence Estimates.
§ Mr. MulleyNo. The extra costs to the Ministry of Defence arising out of the assistance given to the public during the firemen's strike will be recovered through the Home Office, Scottish Office or Northern Ireland Office, as appropriate.
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§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake. on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, that in the event of injury or loss of life among the Armed Forces standing in for firemen, they and their families will receive compensation at least as great as that which would be payable to a fireman under similar circumstances.
§ Mr. MulleyThe pensions payable to officers and Service men who are injured in the course of their duty, and to the widows and children of those killed, do not vary with the kind of duty undertaken.
§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake that no member of the Armed Forces currently standing in for the striking firemen, and working substantially longer hours than the 48-hour week of these firemen, will receive less than firemen's pay for the duration of the present strike.
§ Mr. MulleyI have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 17th November.—[Vol. 939, c.366.]