HC Deb 02 February 1978 vol 943 cc273-5W
37. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effects of the resumption of normal working by fire brigades since 16th January 1978.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

In accordance with the 1977 pay settlement, normal working was resumed by all fire brigades when the morning watch reported for duty on Monday 16th January. Service assistance was withdrawn from each brigade as quickly as possible as men reported for duty and the regular fire appliances and equipment were checked and where necessary serviced to ensure that they could be relied upon for operational use.

Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of firemen (a) whole-time and (b) part-time; what is the average number in each category per 1,000 population now and in January 1974, 1964 and 1954; to what extent the increase is as a result of a reduction in the working week; and how the current figures in terms of firemen per 1,000 population and length of working week compare with the other EEC countries.

Dr. Summerskill

The numbers of fire appliances and of the firemen to man them are determined by the category of fire risk of the area, of which population is only one factor. At 31st December 1954, 1964, 1974 and 1976, the last year for which figures are available, the whole-time and part-time strengths, including control room staff, of fire brigades in England and Wales were 19,009 and 14,701; 24,367 and 15,153; 31,117 and 14,011; and 32,592 and 15,065 respectively.

Figures published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys show that the mid-year estimates of the population for these years were 44,480,000; 47,218,800; 49,158,900; and 49,142,400 respectively.

Because of changes in fire risks and in the organisation of brigades and other factors, it is not possible to relate the increase in the number of firemen directly to reductions in working hours, although these are relevant factors.

Figures for the number of firemen employed in other EEC countries are not readily available. Because of their different conditions of service and working procedures and the wide disparity, ranging from 40 to 60 hours, in the hours worked by firemen in EEC countries, no valid comparison can be made between the number of firemen and the weekly hours of whole-time firemen—currently 48—in England and Wales and those in other EEC countries.