Retained Firefighters

HC Deb 27 May 2004 vol 421 cc1770-1W

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many retained firefighters have been in service during each of the last four years. [176261]

Phil Hope

The information requested is as follows.

Retained firefighters in post, England and Wales, 2000–031
	Number
2000	14,698
2001	14,832
2002	14,719
2003	14,776
1 Data refer to retained workforce as at 31 March of each year

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to help in the recruitment of more retained firefighters. [176262]

Mr. Raynsford

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has set up a review team to examine the issues which contribute to the challenges facing the fire and rescue service in the recruitment and retention of retained firefighters. The review team, a partnership between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and key service stakeholders, will submit its full report, with recommendations, to the Practitioners' Forum in July 2004.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also sponsored the production of a public information video, highlighting the role of retained firefighters. This video was distributed to fire and rescue services this month for use as part of their community information programmes and as a recruitment tool.

Additionally, we have produced a new range of recruitment literature which will be launched in the summer for fire and rescue services to use in their retained recruitment campaigns.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will extend the key worker definition to include(a) firefighters and (b) retained firefighters for the purposes of the affordable housing initiative. [176263]

Keith Hill

In the Fire Service, the Key Worker Living (KWL) programme is assisting whole-time junior officers and retained firefighters (all grades) to tackle recruitment and retention difficulties linked to housing issues experienced by these groups in London, the South East and Eastern Regions. Based on current evidence, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to extend the assistance to whole-time firefighters.