HC Deb 29 October 2002 vol 391 cc702-3W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if(a) MoD Fire Service appliances and (b) QinetiQ fire appliances from Boscombe Down will be deployed to provide fire service cover to the civilian community. [77232]

Mr. Ingram

Ownership of all fire service appliances at Boscombe Down was transferred to QinetiQ in 2001. The fire fighting capabilities at Boscombe Down are tailored to meet the primary need to provide emergency support to the airfield at the site and to support QinetiQ's activities. Although QinetiQ's fire service may be able to assist in response to emergency calls elsewhere in circumstances where their primary responsibility was not put at risk, this cannot be guaranteed.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Green Goddess fire engines will be deployed in Salisbury constituency; how many service personnel will man each appliance; and from what duties they have been withdrawn to provide fire service cover. [77316]

Mr. Ingram

One Green Goddess fire engine will be based in Salisbury. The command structure is designed to ensure flexibility when deploying emergency fire cover, and where necessary resources may be deployed from adjacent areas.

Each Green Goddess has a crew of six per shift, with two shifts, each of 12 hours, providing 24-hour cover. The personnel involved may be withdrawn from a variety of other duties, depending on changing circumstances.

Mr. Flook

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fire service vehicles there are at Norton Manor Camp; and what fire service appliances kept at Norton Manor Camp will be deployed to provide fire service cover to the civilian community. [77763]

Mr. Ingram

There are no emergency fire service vehicles at Norton Manor Camp and there are currently no plans to deploy any emergency fire cover from there. However, a range of fire fighting capabilities, including breathing apparatus and heavy cutting capability will operate from Taunton TA Centre nearby.

It is intended to use all available resources in a flexible manner to provide the most appropriate cover. Where necessary, resources may be deployed from adjacent areas.

Mr. John Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in the event of a firefighters' strike, what disposition of service personnel and Green Goddesses will be made for the protection of the people and their property in the Solihull constituency; and where they will be stationed. [77782]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 28 October 2002]: Emergency cover in Solihull, as in the rest of the country, will consist of a number of elements including Green Goddess crews, breathing apparatus teams, rescue teams (equipped with specialist equipment) and the police. The provision of Ministry of Defence emergency fire cover has been planned in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer and local police to minimise call-out times and maximise the availability of the range of firefighting capabilities.

Temporary fire stations will be located at the Police Traffic Centre, Aston, and the Police Training Centre, Pershore Road. Each location will have three Green Goddess appliances and one Specialist Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team. The Operational Control Centre, based at Bournville, will be responsible for co-ordinating emergency response in the quickest time possible, either through the deployment of these assets, or by requesting assistance from other areas.