§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the Working Time Directive upon fire authorities dependent upon retained firemen; and if he will make a statement. [123298]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienUnder the Central Local Partnership, the Home Office works closely with the Local Government Association's Fire Service Expenditure Forecasting Group to assess future resource demands. The Group has estimated the cost to the fire service in England of the new arrangements for paid annual leave for retained firefighters, agreed in the light of the Working Time Directive, as £3–£4 million a year, with back pay costs of up to £9 million.