§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialised rescue appliances will be available in Bradford Metropolitan Area following the proposals made by West Yorkshire Fire Authority. [89435]
§ Mr. George HowarthStatutory responsibility for ensuring efficient fire services rests locally with the fire authority. However, the approval of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is required, under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, if a fire authority wishes to close a fire station or reduce the number of its fire appliances or firefighting posts. West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority applied on 23 April for his approval to the removal of four emergency tenders, including one in the Bradford Metropolitan Area, and associated firefighting posts. My right hon. Friend is considering this application in consultation with Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate.
313WI understand from the Authority that all the pumping appliances in the Bradford Metropolitan Area have a rescue capability. One appliance has enhanced rescue capability and is termed a heavy rescue pumping appliance.
Within this financial year the Authority intends to deploy additional heavy rescue pumping appliances to Keighley and Odsal, replacing the existing rescue pumping appliances. In addition, for specialist rescue in the brigade area, there are two major rescue units strategically placed at Cleckheaton and Hunslet.