HC Deb 19 January 1988 vol 125 cc644-5W
Mr. Barry Field

To 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 Patten

Responsibility 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 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 Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the training hours for retained firemen were last reviewed.

Mr. John Patten

In 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 Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost per hour nationally of training retained firemen.

Mr. John Patten

This information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.