HC Deb 13 July 1981 vol 8 c272W
Mr. John Garrett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire brigades in the United Kingdom have chemical incident units.

Mr. Mayhew

Responsibility for making provision for fire-fighting purposes rests with individual fire authorities. All such authorities in England and Wales include in this provision resources for dealing with incidents involving chemicals. Whether these resources include a chemical incident unit as so called, a unit of some other description, or appropriate equipment placed on a vehicle used also for other purposes varies according to local determination. Reliable information on the method and quantity of provision by each fire authority is not held centrally.