§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the fire cover provided by the Merseyside fire services; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. BrittanUnder the Fire Services Acts, responsibility for securing the provision for its area of such a fire brigade and such equipment as may be necessary to meet all normal requirements rests with the fire authority. I have no reason to believe that the Merseyside county council is failing to discharge these statutory duties.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated savings through public expenditure cuts in the Merseyside fire services over the next two years.
§ Mr. BrittanIt is for the Merseyside county council to decide the pattern of its expenditure and the allocation between services, including the Merseyside fire brigade, in the light of local needs and conditions.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment of the Merseyside fire service; and what is the total number currently employed.
§ Mr. BrittanThe authorised establishment of the Merseyside fire brigade provides for a total of 1,528 members of the brigade. I understand that the total number employed on 31 October was 1,601.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received against proposed public expenditure cuts in the Merseyside fire services.
§ Mr. BrittanNone.