§ Andrew SelousTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on who will pay for a settlement of the firefighters' pay dispute above four per cent [84214]
§ Mr. RaynsfordAny pay award, not affordable within existing public expenditure, must be paid for by modernisation.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice Army officers have given to his Department regarding crossing Fire Brigades Union picket lines to use fire fighting equipment. [83197]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has neither sought nor received any advice from Army officers regarding crossing Fire Brigades Union picket lines. The military have already been given access to all the fire engines they have asked for, with an initial tranche of 27 red engines made available on the 15 November. It is expected that up to 100 will be made available from local authority reserves during the next few days.