§ Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of members of the Fire Service who are expected to be holders of a heavy goods vehicle driving licence.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI cannot say how many heavy goods vehicle drivers are required in the fire service. The number is determined by the number of520W appliances to be manned on each watch and is a matter for the fire authorities.
§ Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special responsibilities are placed on firemen and what special training is given to them to deal with the particular hazards which could be involved in fires at sophisticated chemical plants such as those in Avonmouth, Bristol.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesAll firemen receive basic training to deal with the hazards which they may have to face. Appropriate training is given by the brigade concerned where particular risks call for specialised equipment and fire-fighting techniques.
§ Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the Acts and regulations since 1970 under which firemen have undertaken extra tasks, have needed to acquire extra skills and have accepted increased responsibilities.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Fire Precautions 1971 and the Fire Precautions (Hotels and Boarding Houses) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972, No. 238) imposed specific responsibilities on fire authorities which gave rise to additional tasks for members of fire brigades. None of the other skills which firemen have needed to acquire arise directly from legislation but from the nature of the hazards with which they have to deal. The 1973 fire service pay agreement, effective from 7th November 1973 recognised in both salary and status the new tasks to be undertaken by firemen, including those arising under the Fire Precautions Act 1971.