§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what consultations he has had with(a) his colleagues in other Government Departments, (b) the fire service and (c) the Fire Brigades Union on the scrutiny report on the fire service; and when he intends to make an announcement regarding the report;
84W(2) what decisions he has made regarding the scrutiny report on the deregulation of the fire service.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe fire safety review team has completed its work and its report has been submitted to the Government. Ministers are now considering the report and the question of its publication. No decisions have been taken on it, nor have any consultations begun with interested parties outside Government. But the Government have made it consistently clear that they are committed to full consultation with interested parties before any changes in the existing arrangements are made.