HC Deb 21 October 2002 vol 391 cc53-5W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the Defence Fire Services PPP and Fire Study 2000; [75086]

(2) what savings he anticipates as a result of the PPP on Defence Fire Services; [75093]

(3) when he intends to announce the outcome of the study in the prioritisation of air base services including the Defence Fire Service. [75090]

Mr. Ingram

The Airfield Support Services Project (ASSP) is seeking to achieve the most viable and cost effective solution for the provision of airfield support, and wider fire services, to the Ministry of Defence world-wide, without compromising operational effectiveness or safety. The options include both PPP and in-house solutions.

The Fire Study 2000 is specifically to review the current organisation of the Defence Fire Services and to develop an optimum strategy for meeting the Department's current and future requirements for Fire Risk management. The results of Fire Study 2000 will inform the in-house Public Sector Comparator (PSC) for ASSP.

The Airfield Support Services Project is currently in the detailed assessment phase. The outcome of this phase of the work will provide a clearer view of the expected savings and benefits of the various options. A decision on the outcome of ASSP is expected to be announced in the second half of 2003.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use will be made of(a) Defence Fire Services and (b) RAF Fire Service in the event of a local authority firemen's strike. [75089]

Mr. Ingram

Defence Fire Service personnel have been providing advice and training to the Armed Forces as part of the contingency preparations for a potential national firemen's strike. They will continue to provide advice to Military Commanders deployed on Op FRESCO, should there be a strike, undertake duties at military headquarters in support of the deployment and will also contribute towards the provision of fire cover on the Ministry of Defence estate. Elements of the RAF Fire Service who have specialist skills will, in the event of a strike, be deployed around the country to assist in the provision of emergency fire and rescue cover.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Operation Fresco military assistance to the civil powers in the event of a local authority firemen's strike; and what effect this would have on military capabilities. [75083]

Mr. Ingram

The Armed Forces role during any strike by firemen would be to provide emergency cover, thus seeking to save lives and ensure that essential services were maintained. They would not be capable of replicating the current fire fighting capability. Assistance would be provided to and at the request of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and not the civil power.

Obviously, Op FRESCO would place an added burden on Service personnel who have been particularly busy over the last few years performing their primary duties. Any deployment to provide emergency fire and rescue cover would impact on their ability to continue those duties, but emergency cover would, as far as possible, be maintained for as long as the strike continued and balanced with other demands on military resources.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to the public purse for each of the last five years of(a) the Defence Fire Service, (b) the RAF Fire Service and (c) the RN Fire Service. [75091]

Mr. Ingram

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with the USAF about the privatisation of Defence Fire Services at US Air bases in the UK; [75087]

(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that the US Air Force is content with the proposed contractorisation of fire services at air bases in the UK. [75088]

Mr. Ingram

Ministry of Defence officials have been in discussion with US Air Force officials about the Airfield Support Services Project from its early stages. The dialogue is ongoing.

The US Air Force requirements were included in the Invitation to Tender, against which the Consortia were invited to bid. Every effort will be made to ensure that the Project meets their requirements.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which local authority fire services are assisting commercial companies in the preparation of bids for the privatisation of Defence fire services; [75084]

(2) under what authority the West Midlands Fire Service is assisting one of the consortia bidding for the Defence Fire Services contract. [75085]

Mr. Ingram

West Midlands Fire Service is working as a partner of one of the Consortia bidding for the Airfield Support Services Project contract.

It would be for the West Midland Fire Service to comment on their relationship with any commercial organisation.