§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on the implications for the London fire service in respect of the maintenance of an adequate fire cover in the aftermath of the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. BrittanI deplore the irresponsible and alarming statement issued by the Greater London council on 8 March which led, in some local newspapers in London, to speculation about fire cover. The list of stations facing closure and appliances to be withdrawn from service provided by the council referred to a hypothetical reduction in fire service expenditure folowing the passage of the Rates Bill; I understand that this speculation has also been linked with the Government's decision to abolish the GLC. The council failed to explain that any proposals by a fire authority for reductions in the establishment of operational firemen, appliances or stations require my consent. This applies to the GLC now and after the Rates Bill comes into effect, and will also apply to the joint fire board, which it is proposed will succeed the council as the fire authority for London. The council will be aware that I have made it clear that I will not grant consent to any proposals which would result in a failure to maintain the nationally recommended minimum standards of fire cover.