Fire Service

HC Deb 01 April 2003 vol 402 cc682-3W

Mr. Norman

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Fire Safety Officers have been employed by local authorities in each year since 1997. [100214]

Mr. Raynsford

The information requested is tabled as follows:

Year	Fire Safety Officers employed by Fire Authorities in England and Wales
1997–98	1,679
1998–99	1,738
1999–2000	1,863
2000–01	1,932
2001–02	1,862

An increased emphasis on prevention is a central component of the Government's agenda to modernise the Fire Service. The Government's proposals will be set out in a White Paper to be published later in the year.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many retained firefighters there were at each fire station in Buckinghamshire in 2002. [105710]

Mr. Raynsford

The total number of retained firefighters at each fire station in Buckinghamshire in the year 2002 is shown in the table.

Name of station	Number of retained firefighters
Amersham	10
Aylesbury	17
Beaconsfield	8
Bletchley	14
Brill	7
Broughton	13
Buckingham	11
Chesham	10
Gerrards Cross	10
Great Holm	10
Great Missenden	10
Haddenham	8
High Wycombe	11
Marlow	11
Newport Pagnell	10
Olney	11
Princes	8
Risborough	—
Stokenchurch	11
Waddesdon	10
Winslow	11
Total:	191
1 Gerrards Cross and Newport Pagnell fire stations are staffed by wholetime firefighters.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list fire stations which(a) opened and (b) closed in Buckinghamshire in 2002. [105712]

Mr. Raynsford

No fire stations have opened or closed in Buckinghamshire during this period.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress towards a resolution of the fire service pay dispute. [106017]

Mr. Raynsford

I refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right.hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister made to the House on 20 March,Official Report, column 1101.