Fire Service Cover (Hansard, 29 October 2002)

§ Mr. Heath
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he has(a) received and (b) requested from (i) chief fire officers and (ii) the Chief Inspector of Fire Brigades on their assessments of the adequacy of fire cover in fire authority areas during a firefighters' strike. [77110]

§ Mr. Raynsford
The provision of MOD emergency fire cover has been planned centrally in consultation with the Chief Inspector of the Fire Service and locally in consultation with Chief Fire Officers to maximise the effectiveness of call-outs and the availability of a range of firefighting capabilities. The emergency cover would not replicate the firefighting capabilities of the Fire Service, but would aim to minimise the danger to human life. The command and operational structure for emergency cover has been designed to enable maximum flexibility and use of available resources, and there will be a continuous dialogue between the emergency services and Chief Fire Officers.

§ Mr. Heath
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of cross-border co-operation he anticipates between neighbouring fire authorities during a firefighters' strike. [77112]

§ Mr. Raynsford
In the event of a firefighters' strike, the command and operational structure for emergency fire cover has been designed to enable maximum flexibility and use of available resources, whether from within a county or from assets deployed nearby in neighbouring counties. The fire crews will use a number of temporary stations across counties but the deployment of fire fighters will be based on the assessment by the military in consultation with others such as the police of how best to respond to an emergency in the quickest time possible. The extent to which retained firefighters continue to work will also be taken into account in determining how best to deploy military fire crews.

Income from council tax as a percentage of spending

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Hampshire county council 32 33 35 34 33

Fareham borough council 45 35 39 43 35

Durham county council 23 25 24 24 23

Durham city council 34 30 34 36 35

English county councils 28 30 30 30 30

English district councils 35 39 38 40 38

source:
1997–98 to 2000–01 Revenue summary returns 2001–02 Budget Estimate Return

Income from council tax as a percentage of spending
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Hampshire county council	32	33	35	34	33
Fareham borough council	45	35	39	43	35
Durham county council	23	25	24	24	23
Durham city council	34	30	34	36	35
English county councils	28	30	30	30	30
English district councils	35	39	38	40	38