HC Deb 26 October 1998 vol 318 c54W
Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire authorities(a) have been and (b) have not been affected by strike action in the last five years; and, for each authority affected, how many days were lost in each of the last five years. [55797]

Mr. George Howarth

Of the fifty fire authorities in England and Wales, three—Merseyside, Derbyshire and Essex—have been affected by industrial action by firefighters in the last five years.

In Merseyside, between August 1995 and May 1996, there were 32 separate strike periods: one of 75 minutes, eight of nine hours and 23 of twenty four hours.

In Derbyshire, between June and September 1996, there were a total of 11 strike periods, each of nine hours.

In Essex, between April and May 1997, there were eight strike periods: two of four hours, one of nine hours, one of 15 hours, three of 24 hours and one of 39 hours.

In Essex, between June and September 1998, there were 28 strike periods: one of eight hours, five of nine hours, seven of 15 hours, 10 of 24 hours, two of 33 hours, two of 48 hours and one of 72 hours.