§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish his criteria for accepting a proposal from a local fire authority under section 85 of the Local Government Act 1985 or section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 as amended by section 7 of the Fire Services Act 1959 for the closure of a fire station and also for the loss of a specialist and pumping appliance from a fire brigade.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggBefore approving a request by a fire authority to reduce its establishment of fire appliances, operational firefighters or by closing a fire station we would need to be satisfied that the proposal was consistent with the maintenance of the nationally recommended standards of fire cover and paid due regard to the need for such cover to be provided in the most economic and efficient manner.