§ Mr. Healeyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the effects on the Leeds, East constituency of the proposed changes in the West Yorkshire fire service.
§ Mr. WhitelawStatutory responsibility for the provision of fire cover in West Yorkshire rests with the county council, which is required under section 1 of the Fire Services Act 1947 to maintain a fire brigade for its area of sufficient strength to meet efficiently all normal requirements. Under section 19 of the Act, as amended by the Fire Services Act 1959, before varying the establishment of the brigade by reducing the number of whole-time operational firemen of any rank in the brigade, or of part-time members, or of fire appliances, or by closing a fire station, the fire authority has to obtain my approval.
I have now received detailed proposals from the county council for varying the 398W establishment scheme of the West Yorkshire fire brigade. These are being studied in relation to the whole of the fire authority's area, and I regret that I cannot at present assess the possible effects on the Leeds, East constituency of the changes proposed. The right hon. Member may be assured, however, that I am not prepared to approve proposals the effect of which would be to reduce fire cover below the minimum standards recommended by the Home Office.