§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when retained firemen were first required to train for a minimum of two hours per week.
§ Mr. John PattenResponsibility for determining nationally the hours of attendance for training for retained firefighters lies with the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades. I understand from the council that retained firefighters had an obligation to attend for training and maintenance duties for an average of two hours a week from at least the early 1960s, and probably from well before then. But the obligation on retained 645W firefighters to attend for an average of two hours per week was, in fact, increased to three hours (though at the discretion of the fire authority) in 1987.
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the training hours for retained firemen were last reviewed.
§ Mr. John PattenIn 1987, and by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades. The council notified fire authorities in October 1987 that the obligation of retained firefighters to attend for training and maintenance duties for an average of two hours a week had been increased by an additional hour per week on average at the discretion of the fire authority.
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost per hour nationally of training retained firemen.
§ Mr. John PattenThis information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.