§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed reduction in fire cover in the London fire brigade; and what representations he has received on these proposals from(a) insurance companies and (b) property policy holders in London. [12867]
§ Mr. SackvilleStatutory responsibility for the provision of the fire service rests with the fire authority—in this case the London fire and civil defence authority. Under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, my right hon. and learned Friend has to be notified of the fire authority's establishment—the number of fire stations, fire appliances and firefighting posts—as at 1 January each year. The fire authority may not reduce its establishment without his consent. He grants approval only where he is satisfied that the proposals have been sufficiently widely publicised, in sufficient detail and with adequate time, to enable any interested party to make representations; the representations have been considered by the fire authority; and that, after taking advice from Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire services, the nationally recommended standards of fire cover will be maintained.
My right hon. and learned Friend has received no application from the fire authority for his approval. However, he has received a number of representations, some of which may well have come from holders of property insurance policies, but, as at 31 January, none from insurance companies. Should the authority decide to make an application to reduce fire cover, any representations made to the Secretary of State would be taken into account when that application is considered.