§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the amount of overtime worked in the fire service in each of the last four years for which figures are available; if he will publish such information, in summary form, in theOfficial Report; and if he will make a statement on his proposals to reduce the amounts of overtime worked.
§ Mr. John PattenThis information is not collected centrally. However, I understand from the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades that the average amount of overtime per firefighter worked over the past 10 years has been of the order of 16 to 20 minutes per week.
The Government have not proposed a reduction in the amount of overtime worked. The more flexible use of manpower in the fire service, including the use of overtime, is one of a range of issues currently being considered by a joint working party of the national joint council and the Government, chaired by my noble Friend the Minister of State, Earl Ferrers.