§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give further details of the reasons for the consent given to the loss of the pump appliance and firefighter crews from L21 East Ham fire station by his Department; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire services' assessment of lire cover presently available in that fire station's ground.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIt is presumed that this refers to the approved reduction in 1979 to accommodate the new 42-hour working week for the fire service. Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire services has had no reason then or since to judge that the reduction was detrimental to the standards of fire cover.
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§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list every fire station in the London fire brigade that has been closed since 1965, the appliance deployment and firefighter staffing at each station immediately prior to closure, and give details of the fire stations, fire appliances and firefighter staffing that presently cover the former station ground of each such fire station; and what were the reasons for closure in each case.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIt is understood that the Camden Town, Pageants Wharf and West Wickham fire stations have been permanently closed without replacement since 1965, and their fire cover responsibilities absorbed elsewhere. The other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular points, my noble Friend should be glad to try to deal with them in correspondence.
§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy towards proposals included in the 1987–88 London fire and civil defence authority establishment scheme for the London fire brigade regarding the loss of the pump ladder appliance or the emergency rescue tender appliance presently based at L21 East Ham fire station and for reduction in the present establishment of station officers, sub-officers, leading firemen and firefighters, respectively;
(2) if he will give details of his assessment of the establishment of firefighters, fire appliances (pump, pump ladder, and specialist), and fire stations required by the London fire brigade to provide an effective, efficient and economic service during the financial year 1987–88 commencing 1 April 1987.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy right hon. Friend has received no proposals from the London fire and civil defence authority in respect of the establishment scheme for the London Fire Brigade for 1987–88. Such a scheme does not have to be submitted until January 1987 and when received it will be carefully considered on its merits.