§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consider urgently the need to guarantee supplies of water for fire fighting; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will seek to amend the Fire Services Act in order to establish a legal obligation to provide water supplies for fire fighting purposes.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is clearly essential that water supplies for firefighting are guaranteed. We have received representations from the South Yorkshire county fire service expressing concern that the fire service may face additional costs arising from the provision by water undertakers of facilities to provide a flow of water for firefighting purposes above that required for domestic purposes. We have no plans for legislation in this area but will keep the situation under review.