§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a list of the number and type of appliances and their equipment deployed at each fire station in the north-east area command of the London fire brigade which carry equipment specifically for use at incidents involving radioactive substances and details of other specialist appliances deployed elsewhere in the brigade which could be used at such incidents; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of this level of provision in relation to protection against radioactive hazards.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe list requested is as follows:
Station Appliances Shoreditch Pump Ladder, Pump Kingsland Road Pump Ladder, Pump, Hydraulic Platform Stoke Newington Pump Ladder, Pump Whitechapel Pump Ladder, Pump Stratford Pump Ladder, Pump Poplar Pump Ladder, Pump, Turntable Ladder Millwall Pump Ladder, Pump Shadwell Pump Ladder Bethnal Green Pump Ladder, Pump Bow Pump Ladder, Pump Homerton Pump Ladder, Pump Leyton Pump Ladder Leytonstone Pump Ladder, Pump Chingford Pump Ladder, Damage Control Tender Woodford Pump Ladder Walthamstow Pump Ladder, Pump, Hose-Laying Lorry East Ham Pump Ladder, Emergency Rescue Tender Ilford Pump Ladder, Pump Hainault Pump Ladder Romford Pump Ladder, Pump Dagenham Pump Ladder, Pump, Hydraulic Platform Hornchurch Pump Ladder, Pump Barking Pump Ladder, Pump, Foam Tender, Fire Investigation Unit Wennington Pump Ladder Silvertown Pump Ladder, Pump These appliances carry equipment for use at incidents involving radioactive substances. 26 pump ladders each carry five breathing apparatus sets, a survey meter, six dosimeters, six pairs of protective gloves and two chemical protection suits. 19 pumps each carry four breathing apparatus sets, five dosimeters, five pairs of protective gloves and two chemical protection suits. The emergency rescue tender carries five breathing apparatus sets, five dosimeters, four gas-tight suits, four chemical protection suits, five pairs of protective gloves and personnel decontamination equipment. A survey meter is for contamination monitoring and a dosimeter is an individual absorbed radiation monitor.
452WSimilar numbers of these appliances and the equipment carried are present in each of the other areas of the London fire brigade and can be mobilised to any incident in the brigade area. Scientific advisers are available at all times. Ancillary equipment is held at the brigade's headquarters.
I am advised that the appliances, equipment, expertise and guidance available to the London fire brigade are adequate in the circumstances.