HC Deb 08 December 1986 vol 107 cc75-6W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish information on the current locations of the London fire brigade's reserve fleet of fire appliances.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The location of the reserve pumping and special appliances, as at June 1986, is as follows:

Area Command Pumps Specials
north 14 2
north-east 15 2
north-west 16 1
south-east 16 1
south-west 12 1

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the percentage of the station ground of the former B25 Pageants Wharf fire station of the London fire brigade that is now in the station ground of (a) B24 Dockhead fire station, (b) B26 Old Kent Road fire station, (c) Deptford fire station and (d) B29 New Cross fire station of the London fire brigade.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

This information is not held centrally.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the date of, and give reasons for, closure of B25 Pageants wharf fire station of the London fire brigade, the number of fire appliances per type and establishment of firefighters per rank deployed at that fire station immediately prior to closure, the number of emergency calls received from that fire station's ground in the five years preceding closure, the risk categories of that station ground when closure was implemented and at present, and the fire stations at which each appliance and crew were redeployed when closure was implemented.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The London fire brigade closed B25 Pageants wharf fire station in 1965 on the grounds both of its age and condition which had rendered it uneconomical to maintain, and its unsuitability for changing operational needs. It housed prior to closure, two appliances, a pump escape and a pump. The adjoining stations which absorbed its station ground were (B27) Deptford and (B24) Dockhead fire stations. The present risk category of the station ground is A risk. The other information requested is not held centrally.

Mr. Gavin Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed 1987–88 budget for the London fire brigade.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The proposed 1987–88 budget for the London fire brigade is a matter for the London fire and civil defence authority.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of replacing the Greater London council crest on the uniform buttons, fire appliances and fire engines of the London fire brigade.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the London fire and civil defence authority that £7,000 has been approved for the preparatory work for a new crest. The cost of replacing the crest on such items as vehicles and uniforms has not been estimated. The new crest will only be introduced as new items of equipment come into service or existing ones are replaced.