HC Deb 18 April 1990 vol 170 cc905-6W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans exist to deal with a major fire at a major tyre dump in Britain.

Mr. Waddington

It is the duty of each fire authority to make provision for firefighting purposes in its area, and to ensure that its fire brigade has adequate and efficient fire cover arrangements. These would include contingency plans for all significant fire risks such as those inherent in major tyre dumps for which the fire service has available special techniques. Typically, a comprehensive contingency plan would also detail arrangements for liaising with the police and the other emergency services, and for the evacuation of the area should the situation require it.