HC Deb 30 January 2001 vol 362 cc173-4W
Mr. Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of digital trunked radio technologies for the Fire Service as a replacement radio system developed specifically to cater for voice communications and data message transfer. [147627]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The Home Office has procured specialist consultancy advice on how fire authorities can best meet their future mobile communications and control room requirements. Guidance to fire authorities on control room requirements has already been published; further guidance on radio bearer Systems will be published shortly.

Digital trunked solutions to the fire service's requirements have been considered as have other options. Future procurements by authorities are expected to be undertaken on the basis of competition against an output-based specification related to performance.

Mr. Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approach will be used in the procurement process for future radio Systems for the fire service; and what assistance will be offered to the Fire Service to meet best value targets. [147628]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

I have recently consulted representatives of the Local Government Association and the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association about how to ensure that fire authorities secure value for money in procuring their future communications systems, particularly replacement radio bearer systems. I have since written to those representatives and am now seeking the agreement of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council at its meeting on 6 February to the strategy that has been proposed. I am sending a copy of that letter, which sets out the intended strategy, to my hon. Friend and am also placing copies in the Library.