HC Deb 31 January 1985 vol 72 cc253-4W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many London authorities or local authority organisations included in their responses to Cmnd. 9063 comments supporting the retention of a single Londonwide fire brigade; how many were opposed to the retention of a single fire brigade; and how many suggested special organisational changes for London's fire brigade when commenting on paragraph 2.19 of Cmnd. 9063.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Responses to Cmnd. 9063 indicated little support for change in the organisation of the London Fire Brigade. No London borough or local government organisation was opposed to the retention of a Londonwide brigade or suggested special organisational arrangements for its management by the joint fire board.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sums of money, both revenue and capital, will be made available to the London joint board for fire to cover the period from 1 September 1985 to 31 March 1986 to enable it to employ staff, acquire land and premises and enter into contracts; and what will be the source of those funds.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Clause 67 of the Local Government Bill would enable the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority to borrow in order to defray expenses incurred before the abolition date. The amount borrowed would be subject to a limit to be determined under subsection (2) and would have to be repaid before the end of the financial year 1986–87.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which responses to Cmnd. 9063 led him to propose the setting up of four area committees within the proposed joint board for the London Fire Brigade.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The idea of area committees originated from the Government's consideration of earlier proposals for the reorganisation of the London Fire Brigade, notably those published by the Greater London council in 1981.