§ 27. Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firemen there are in England and Wales; what proportion of these are retained firemen; and what are the wage costs involved in each sector.
§ Mr. John PattenOn 1 January 1991 there were 49,729 firefighters employed by local authorities in England and Wales, of whom 14,630–29.4 per cent. of the total, were retained firefighters. Estimated salary and wage costs for the financial year 1990–91 were £607.5 million for wholetime and £52.9 million for retained firefighters.