§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are in a position to announce the terms of reference of the inquiry they are establishing into the machinery for determining firefighters' conditions of service and who is to undertake it. [HL99]
§ Lord BachThe terms of reference of the inquiry are:
"To consider whether and, if so, what changes need to be made to the present procedures for determining the conditions of service (other than pay) and the working practices of firefighters employed by local authorities' fire brigades so as to secure best value, fairness at work, and effective procedures for the settling of disputes, and to report to the Secretary of State."
The inquiry will be undertaken by Professor Frank Burchill, Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Keele.
Professor Burchill will shortly be writing to interested parties seeking written evidence by 31 January 2000. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office (Mr O'Brien) has asked Professor Burchill to let him have his report and recommendations by 31 March 2000.