HC Deb 21 November 2002 vol 394 cc273-4W
Mr. Flight

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of a national firefighters' strike to the UK economy per day. [81790]

Ruth Kelly

Estimated costs to the UK economy of fires were set out in Home Office Research Study 229 (October 2001) entitled "The economic costs of fire". It is not possible to reliably estimate in advance the costs to the UK economy of a firefighters' strike given the number of factors involved, including the different capacity offered by emergency cover arrangements compared with the normal fire service.

Mr. Flight

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much an(a) 11 per cent., and (b) 40 per cent., increase in firelighters' pay would cost HM Treasury over the next five years. [81789]

Ruth Kelly

Estimated spending on fire services (the Fire Standard Spending Assessment) is set out in the Government's White Paper: "2002 Spending Review: New Public Spending Plans 2003–2006", published in July 2002. Actual spending on fire services, including pay, is determined by fire authorities and will include an element derived from local taxation.