§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make(a) a decision and (b) an announcement on whether the Ministry of Defence Fire Service will be retained or privatised. [158692]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 4 March 2004]: This issue is being considered as part of the Airfield Support Services Project, which is seeking to establish the most cost-effective method of maintaining a full airfield support service including management and administration, without compromising operational capability and/or safety. No decision has yet been made about the outcome of this project and we will only do so following full and careful considerations of all the options. Although we are moving towards this point, I am not yet in a position to say exactly when this will be.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the comparative cost per firefighter per hour during the firefighters' strike of emergency cover by an armed forces' firefighter and a firefighter employed by a private firm under contract to his Department. [158693]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 4 March 2004]The full cost of using armed forces fire fighters during the fire fighters strike was approximately £17 per hour. No fire fighters employed by private contractors under contract to this Department were deployed on such duties.
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§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what surveys his Department have undertaken to assess the willingness of firefighters employed by private contractors to serve in war zones during hostilities. [158694]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 4 March 2004]: As part of Fire Study 2000, a comprehensive investigation into the organisation of the Department's fire services, a survey was carried out to assess whether fire fighters engaged directly by the Department, and those employed by private contractors, would be willing to serve as Sponsored Reserves, which could involve serving overseas in hostile environments.
No other specific surveys of fire fighters have been carried out by the Department.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover is given to(a) his Department's fire service personnel and (b) privately contracted firefighters when attending (i) road traffic accidents and (ii) other civil emergencies. [158695]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 4 March 2004]: The Ministry of Defence does not purchase insurance policies but pays claims for compensation directly from its current expenditure. Claims are paid in accordance with the Department's legal liability to make payment.
MOD Fire Fighters are covered for compensation if they should suffer injury or death as a result of negligence on the part of MOD while attending road traffic accidents or other civil emergencies to the same extent as when they are carrying out other official duties. Similarly, if MOD Fire Fighters were to cause injury or death to another individual, or damage to property belonging to another person, while attending road traffic accidents then MOD, not the fire fighter involved, would be liable to pay compensation to that person.
If MOD Fire Fighters should suffer injury or death as a result of negligence on the part of another person or organisation then MOD would not be legally liable to pay them compensation. Instead they, or their estate, would have to claim from the person concerned. However MOD does have a scheme called ToPaS, under which legal advice and assistance can be obtained, without cost, to enable a claim to be brought.
Under the rules governing Military Aid to the Civil Community, MOD requires local authorities to indemnify the Department against any costs, such as paying compensation, which may be incurred in providing Aid, such as attending road traffic accidents.
Where the fire service is provided to the Department by a private contractor then it is the contractor who is responsible for making all the necessary insurance arrangements for their employees.
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