HC Deb 21 October 1992 vol 212 c297W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining the procedures to he followed in the event of a company which had gained a tender for the fleet management of fire brigade vehicles subsequently getting into financial difficulties and having its assets seized while still maintaining the tender.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Compulsory competitive tendering for maintaining fire brigade vehicles remains under review, but there are no plans to require tendering for fleet management.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the implementation of compulsory competitive tendering in the fire service; and how many of these representations have called for the upkeep of fire engines to be made exempt from compulsory tendering arrangements.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

With the exception of Hertfordshire fire authority, all fire authorities and other fire service representative bodies in England and Wales have expressed opposition to compulsory competitive tendering for the maintenance of their vehicle fleets.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the direct fleet maintenance costs for fire brigade vehicles in each fire brigade authority in Wales; and if he will outline the comparable direct costs for each fire brigade authority area which has put tenders out to external companies in England.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Information about costs of brigade vehicle fleet maintenance is not available centrally.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the fire brigades in Wales which are currently able to identify unit costs throughout their fleet management organisations.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Of the eight brigades in Wales, four are currently able to identify their brigade vehicle fleet unit costs, one will have identifiable costs by April 1993 and three are within their local authority costing schemes.