§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What will be the cost of using "Green Goddesses" to provide fire cover; and who will meet these costs. [HL6141]
§ The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker):It is very difficult to predict exactly what the cost to central government of providing emergency fire cover will be. It will depend very much on what strike action the FBU actually takes.
The UK Government will meet the additional costs incurred by the MoD in providing emergency fire cover in England and Wales net of savings in wages lost by striking firefighters.
The Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office will meet the MoD additional costs net of savings in wages lost by striking firefighters in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.