§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the recommendations made by his Department's inspector for changes in procedures at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane were based on the evidence received during his Department's inquiry into allegations about conduct at the school; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe recommendations made by Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services were based on views formed by the inspector during his inquiry taking into account the evidence given to him by recruits and instructors and the surrounding circumstances.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has as to the veracity of complaints made by fire service recruits about practices at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonComplaints were received from one brigade only; I am satisfied that these have been properly investigated and that the conclusions reached by the independent inspector were reasonable.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department published the report of the inquiry into allegations of malpractices at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and when the report was made available to the Lothian and Borders fire brigade.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe report of the inquiry was not published nor was it made available to Lothian and Borders fire brigade, but a very full news release was issued on 16 September 1987, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if a Fire Brigades Union representative was present at all interviews with recruits and other staff in connection with his Department's inquiry into complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Fire Brigades Union was invited to be represented at all the 24 interviews. I understand that a local office bearer was present at 20 of these but elected not to attend the other four and further that he expressed himself satisfied with the way in which the interviews were conducted.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will explain the reason for changes in procedures at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane which have been introduced following the recent inquiry into complaints about that establishment.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe changes in procedures were introduced following recommendations made by the inspector in his report.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the procedure used by a senior officer of the Strathclyde fire brigade to interview 12 recruits about allegations of humiliating and degrading treatment at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo special procedures were used. The senior officer of Strathclyde fire brigade 653W interviewed 13 recruits from his brigade, including one who has now left the service at Strathclyde's training establishment. None had any complaint to make nor had they seen anyone abused.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any senior officers of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade were formally interviewed in connection with his Department's inquiry into complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe inspector interviewed the third officer of the brigade on 17 June 1987.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (I) if he is satisfied with the way in which the firemaster and staff of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade dealt with complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the investigation carried out by the Lothian and Borders fire brigade into allegations of humiliating and degrading treatment of recruits at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he is satisfied with the conduct of the brigade in relation to these complaints and the subsequent inquiries.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe inspector in his report commented on the handling of the matter, and these comments have been passed to the firemaster.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide the firemaster of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade with a copy of the report and associated evidence of his Department's inquiry into complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo. The report was private and contained information which was given to Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services on the understanding that confidentiality would be observed. However, the findings and recommendations of the report were contained in a very detailed Scottish Office news release published on 16 September 1987, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Subsequently, Lothian and Borders fire board was given a detailed resume of the inquiry and I met representatives of the board on 29 January 1988 to discuss the matter further.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration was given to allegations about dangerous practices in his Department's recent investigation concerning the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI am unaware of any allegations of dangerous practices.
'Excess' winter mortality Scotland, 1958–87 Year Winter Deaths Summer Deaths Differences Percentage Excess A B A-B (A-B) × 100/B 1958 18,622 12,667 5,955 47.0 1959 21,048 12,900 8,148 63.2 1960 17,194 13,705 3,489 25.5 1961 18,752 13,514 5,238 38.8