HC Deb 02 February 1996 vol 270 c978W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors led to the decision to permit employees of the fire services to stand for election in local authority areas in their areas. [12561]

Mr. Hague

Employees of combined fire authorities can become members of unitary authorities, but cannot be representatives of their councils on the fire authority of which their council is a constituent.

The Government consider that the responsibilities of combined fire authorities are such that membership of a constituent council would not present any conflict of interest for an employee of the combined fire authority provided that the employee is not a representative of the council on the combined fire authority.