§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority in respect of its difficulties in fulfilling its statutory duties; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe chairman of the Merseyside fire and civil defence authority wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend on 30 December about the authority's difficulty in complying with the nationally recommended minimum standards of fire cover in two specific areas. I shall write to the chairman as soon as possible.