HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1080-1W
Mr. Francois

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many support staff were employed by the Essex Fire and Rescue Service on 1 September 2003. [139663]

Mr. Raynsford

As at 31 March 2003 (the latest figures available), there were 179 (full-time equivalent) support staff employed by Essex Fire and Rescue Service. The actual headcount number of support staff employed was 197.

Mr. Francois

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many community education vans were retained by the Essex Fire and Rescue Service on 1 September. [139665]

Mr. Raynsford

There are four dedicated community education vans retained by Essex Fire and Rescue Service as at 1 September 2003.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact he proposes regional assemblies will have on the structure of the Fire Service in North Yorkshire. [140168]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government made it clear in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808 June 2003) that in those parts of the country that choose to have an elected regional assembly one of its functions will be to oversee a regional fire and rescue service. This will mean fewer individual fire authorities. Day-to-day operational response, fire prevention and community fire safety work, however, will continue as now to be delivered at a local level.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons for introducing integrated personal development systems for the fire services in the South West Region. [140186]

Mr. Raynsford

Integrated Personal Development System (IPDS) is a national system which is being rolled out across the whole country. The reasons for introducing it are set out in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (June 2003).

Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with individual fire authorities on integrated personal development systems. [140187]

Mr. Raynsford

I have had no such discussions. But fire and rescue authorities are represented by the Local Government Association on the project board taking forward the integrated personal development system (IDPS) within the Fire and Rescue Service Modernisation Programme.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost is of introducing integrated personal development systems for the fire service in the South West Region. [140188]

Mr. Raynsford

This is a matter for fire authorities in the South West.