§ Mr. DobbinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will require the same communications technology to be used across the three emergency services; [147626]
(2) if he will assess the project work undertaken by the Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority when determining future radio strategies for emergency services. [147629]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienJoint working is one of the Government's core principles for delivering efficient and modern public services. The communications systems of each of the emergency services need to be able to meet the particular operational requirements of that service. But the systems also need to support effective interworking between the services. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has therefore asked representatives of the police, fire and emergency ambulance services to put proposals by Easter 2001 to him and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on how collaboration between those services in communications and in other areas can be encouraged and improved.
205WI would encourage and indeed expect these proposals to take account of project work already in hand by emergency services in different parts of the country.