HC Deb 28 March 1990 vol 170 c238W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria govern the application of the Government fire standards code to major refurbishments of his Department's storage facilities.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The code is applied to major refurbishments of MOD storage facilities where feasible or cost-effective.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual amount of expenditure on improving fire safety standards in his Department's storage depots for each year since 1979.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Figures for years prior to 1984 are not readily available. Fire safety-related expenditure by calendar year since 1984, which includes spending on specific fire safety enhancements and on new buildings which meet the Government fire standards code, has been broadly as follows:

£ million
1984 1.3
1985 11.7
1986 22.7
1987 8.9
1988 14.0
1989 6.4

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the legal status of the Government fire standards code; and whether the code applies to his Department's storage facilities in other countries.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The code is an advisory document, and has no statutory force. It is applicable to the Ministry of Defence's storage facilities worldwide.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations govern the liaison between the various military fire services and local civilian fire services in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) abroad.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Departmental regulations, applicable in the United Kingdom and overseas, provide for visits to Ministry of Defence establishments by local fire brigades, for joint exercises and mutual assistance.