§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the number of part-time firemen(a) in Wales and (b) nationally; what their average remuneration per week is; and what assessment he has made of the effect of recent social security changes on the benefits of part-time firemen.
§ Mr. John PattenAs at 1 January 1988 there were 1,583 retained firefighters in Wales, and 16,896 nationally,428W excluding Northern Ireland; no information is available centrally regarding their average remuneration. The effect on the benefits of retained firefighters of the recent changes in social security legislation announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will vary with the circumstances of individual claimants.