House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Nov 2002 (pt 14)

19 Nov 2002 : Column 81W—continued

Essex and Suffolk Haven Gateway Initiative

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give recognition to the Essex and Suffolk Haven Gateway initiative; and what financial and other support the Government will provide. [80755]

Mr. Raynsford: As I indicated to the right hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal (Mr. Gummer) on 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 343W, I recognise that the Haven Gateway Partnership has an important role. The East of England Development Agency has allocated #125,000 to support the partnership this year.

Fire Service

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to the Government has been of (a) maintained and (b) storage of Bedford self-propelled pumps since the Auxiliary Fire Service was disbanded; and if he will make a statement. [81699]

Mr. Leslie: The vehicles are held at Marchington and the costs of the site are shown in the following table:

Costs of Marchington since 1991

Year Rent Storage costs Maintained costs Income⁽¹³⁾ Total

1991–92⁽¹⁴⁾ 326,693 Included in rent 502,441 — 829,134

1992–93 1,476,890 301,045 708,200 — 2,486,135

1993–94 1,183,128 237,870 832,944 — 2,253,942

1994–95 1,459,751 204,928 685,438 — 2,350,117

1995–96 1,191,498 195,845 635,924 — 2,023,267

1996–97 1,308,115 188,128 558,411 — 2,054,654

1997–98 1,388,300 144,076 512,549 — 2,044,925

1998–99 1,410,773 156,788 562,350 — 2,129,911

1999–2000 1,460,324 131,272 692,557 — 2,284,153

2000–01 1,490,469 178,784 881,139 — 2,550,392

2001–02 1,339,244 243,765 1,144,343 -800,000 1,927,352

Year	Rent	Storage costs	Maintained costs	Income⁽¹³⁾	Total
1991–92⁽¹⁴⁾	326,693	Included in rent	502,441	—	829,134
1992–93	1,476,890	301,045	708,200	—	2,486,135
1993–94	1,183,128	237,870	832,944	—	2,253,942
1994–95	1,459,751	204,928	685,438	—	2,350,117
1995–96	1,191,498	195,845	635,924	—	2,023,267
1996–97	1,308,115	188,128	558,411	—	2,054,654
1997–98	1,388,300	144,076	512,549	—	2,044,925
1998–99	1,410,773	156,788	562,350	—	2,129,911
1999–2000	1,460,324	131,272	692,557	—	2,284,153
2000–01	1,490,469	178,784	881,139	—	2,550,392
2001–02	1,339,244	243,765	1,144,343	-800,000	1,927,352

⁽¹³⁾In July 2001 management of the EFS stockpile reverted to Departmental management and income is now shown separately.

⁽¹⁴⁾Part Year

19 Nov 2002 : Column 82W

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) full-time and (b) retained firemen are on the strength of each fire brigade. [82013]

Mr. Leslie: The strength of firefighters in each fire authority area in England and Wales at 31 March 2002 is shown in the table:

Strength of wholetime⁽¹⁵⁾and retained⁽¹⁶⁾ fire authority staff in England and Wales at 31 March 2002⁽¹⁷⁾

Wholetime Retained

Avon 651 159

Bedfordshire and Luton 324 118

Buckinghamshire 304 143

Cambridgeshire 274 304

Cheshire 626 146

Cleveland 610 66

Cornwall 183 407

County Durham and Darlington 412 151

Cumbria 274 372

Derbyshire 482 226

Devon 538 651

Dorset 298 289

East Sussex 423 197

Essex 948 382

Gloucestershire 226 261

Greater Manchester 2,148 26

Hampshire 770 567

Hereford and Worcester 352 289

Hertfordshire 570 208

Humberside 720 270

Isle of Wight 59 148

Isles of Scilly 10 33

Kent 951 467

Lancashire 1,002 268

Leicestershire 476 139

Lincolnshire 192 420

London 5,913 0

Merseyside 1,317 0

Mid and West Wales 499 662

Norfolk 307 430

North Wales 289 473

North Yorkshire 363 321

Northamptonshire 292 231

Northumberland 208 162

Nottinghamshire 576 205

Oxfordshire 239 232

Royal Berkshire 413 136

Shropshire 206 252

Somerset 181 345

South Wales 957 363

South Yorkshire 923 34

Staffordshire 471 308

Suffolk 252 348

Surrey 686 103

Tyne and Wear 1,009 18

Warwickshire 282 144

West Midlands 2,028 7

West Sussex 393 259

West Yorkshire 1,660 160

Wiltshire 221 280

	Wholetime	Retained
Avon	651	159
Bedfordshire and Luton	324	118
Buckinghamshire	304	143
Cambridgeshire	274	304
Cheshire	626	146
Cleveland	610	66
Cornwall	183	407
County Durham and Darlington	412	151
Cumbria	274	372
Derbyshire	482	226
Devon	538	651
Dorset	298	289
East Sussex	423	197
Essex	948	382
Gloucestershire	226	261
Greater Manchester	2,148	26
Hampshire	770	567
Hereford and Worcester	352	289
Hertfordshire	570	208
Humberside	720	270
Isle of Wight	59	148
Isles of Scilly	10	33
Kent	951	467
Lancashire	1,002	268
Leicestershire	476	139
Lincolnshire	192	420
London	5,913	0
Merseyside	1,317	0
Mid and West Wales	499	662
Norfolk	307	430
North Wales	289	473
North Yorkshire	363	321
Northamptonshire	292	231
Northumberland	208	162
Nottinghamshire	576	205
Oxfordshire	239	232
Royal Berkshire	413	136
Shropshire	206	252
Somerset	181	345
South Wales	957	363
South Yorkshire	923	34
Staffordshire	471	308
Suffolk	252	348
Surrey	686	103
Tyne and Wear	1,009	18
Warwickshire	282	144
West Midlands	2,028	7
West Sussex	393	259
West Yorkshire	1,660	160
Wiltshire	221	280

⁽¹⁵⁾ In full-time equivalents

⁽¹⁶⁾ In 24 hour units of cover

⁽¹⁷⁾ Provisional

Note:

Figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he collects on the relative manpower to risk ratios of different fire brigades; and what guidelines he offers to brigades on determining manpower levels. [82014]

19 Nov 2002 : Column 83W

Mr. Leslie: HM Fire Service Inspectorate collects information for each fire authority on staffing levels and on hectarage of each category of fire risk. However, it is not possible to make a direct correlation between the two as fire cover is provided on a strategic basis.

Guidance which fire authorities use when considering staffing levels is contained in the XReport of the Joint Committee on Standards of Fire Cover", circulated under cover of Fire Service Circular 4/1985, a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House. This report recommends national standards for attendance times, the number of fire appliances and crewing levels. Fire

19 Nov 2002 : Column 84W

authorities use a formula to determine what staffing levels they require to meet these standards, taking account of local circumstances. HM Inspectorate examines these levels as part of its regular inspection of brigades.

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many emergency call-outs were received by each fire brigade in the last year for which information is available. [82015]

Mr. Leslie: The number of emergency call-outs attended by UK local authority fire brigades for the last year for which data are available is recorded in the table.

Incidents attended by brigade area, 2000⁽¹⁸⁾

Fires

Total incidents All fires Primary fires⁽¹⁹⁾ Secondary fires Chimney fires False alarms Special services⁽²⁰⁾

United Kingdom 1,134,388 476,347 219,535 241,357 15,455 460,466 197,575

England and Wales 981,573 399,437 192,239 197,253 9,945 396,913 185,223

England 920,968 368,537 179,842 179,753 8,942 377,950 174,481

England—non-Met 494,149 196,655 101,497 86,934 8,224 204,765 92,729

Avon 18,410 7,330 4,372 2,837 121 8,070 3,010

Bedfordshire 8,180 3,617 2,070 1,485 62 3,239 1,324

Berkshire 13,742 4,755 2,589 2,054 112 6,796 2,191

Buckinghamshire 10,466 4,616 2,605 1,888 123 4,325 1,525

Cambridgeshire 12,707 4,156 2,374 1,678 104 6,412 2,139

Cheshire 14,521 6,975 3,020 3,778 177 5,374 2,172

Cleveland 16,023 8,256 3,199 5,028 29 5,759 2,008

Cornwall 6,332 2,656 1,405 848 403 2,197 1,479

Cumbria 7,778 3,524 1,724 1,538 262 3,349 905

Derbyshire 14,221 5,038 2,573 2,244 221 6,488 2,695

Devon 17,278 6,089 3,291 2,314 484 7,102 4,087

Dorset 10,219 3,723 1,838 1,646 239 4,547 1,949

Durham 11,434 5,978 2,411 3,317 250 3,916 1,540

East Sussex 14,290 4,845 3,013 1,603 229 5,720 3,725

Essex 25,481 9,405 4,776 4,474 155 10,015 6,061

Gloucestershire 7,300 2,853 1,664 929 260 2,654 1,793

Hampshire 22,920 9,116 4,175 4,602 339 9,266 4,538

Hereford and Worcs 9,174 3,725 1,951 1,514 260 3,469 1,980

Hertfordshire 13,581 5,296 3,081 2,127 88 6,234 2,051

Humberside 16,895 8,369 3,360 4,819 190 5,658 2,868

Isle of Wight 1,966 589 372 172 45 753 624

Kent 25,817 10,239 5,581 4,326 332 10,519 5,059

Lancashire 26,648 12,251 5,633 6,451 167 10,728 3,669

Leicestershire 13,806 5,386 2,900 2,346 140 5,771 2,649

Lincolnshire 7,252 3,134 1,824 1,105 205 2,334 1,784

Norfolk 9,403 3,889 2,267 1,312 310 4,043 1,471

North Yorkshire 10,784 3,575 2,082 1,153 340 4,131 3,078

Northamptonshire 10,047 4,681 2,586 1,943 152 3,833 1,533

Northumberland 5,174 2,655 1,109 1,339 207 1,876 643

Nottinghamshire 17,589 8,067 4,272 3,620 175 6,714 2,808

Oxfordshire 10,264 3,247 2,015 999 233 5,585 1,432

Shropshire 6,815 2,960 1,498 1,209 253 2,294 1,561

Somerset 7,754 2,740 1,614 745 381 3,306 1,708

Staffordshire 14,438 6,745 3,268 3,233 244 5,378 2,315

Suffolk 7,994 2,813 1,630 979 204 3,590 1,591

Surrey 15,569 4,099 2,348 1,623 128 8,282 3,188

Warwickshire 7,943 3,046 1,498 1,443 105 3,566 1,331

West Sussex 15,214 3,689 2,033 1,428 228 7,260 4,265

Wiltshire 8,688 2,516 1,470 780 266 4,203 1,969

Isles of Scilly 32 12 6 5 1 9 11

England(Met 426,819 171,882 78,345 92,819 718 173,185 81,752

Greater Manchester 59,675 29,201 14,953 14,189 59 24,217 6,257

Merseyside 37,808 21,278 8,406 12,810 62 12,625 3,905

South Yorkshire 24,293 12,135 5,116 6,844 175 9,168 2,990

Tyne and Wear 26,660 14,858 5,996 8,821 41 9,469 2,333

West Midlands 59,807 25,397 12,462 12,855 80 24,766 9,644

West Yorkshire 42,128 20,791 9,668 10,908 215 17,368 3,969

Greater London 176,448 48,222 21,744 26,392 86 75,572 52,654

Wales 60,605 30,900 12,397 17,500 1,003 18,963 10,742

North Wales 13,706 5,535 2,429 2,642 464 5,153 3,018

Mid and West Wales 16,991 8,623 3,931 4,309 383 4,917 3,451

South Wales 29,908 16,742 6,037 10,549 156 8,893 4,273

Northern Ireland 34,488 21,156 7,093 11,672 2,391 11,774 1,558

Scotland⁽²¹⁾ 118,327 55,754 20,203 32,432 3,119 51,779 10,794

Strathclyde 60,265 29,641 10,235 18,920 486 25,881 4,743

Highland and Islands 4,980 2,319 644 657 1,018 2,127 534

Grampian 8,169 3,737 1,669 1,537 531 3,283 1,149

Tayside 9,169 4,522 1,645 2,644 233 3,828 819

Lothian and Borders 21,413 9,154 3,638 5,183 333 10,193 2,066

Fife 6,923 3,095 1,119 1,829 147 3,177 651

Central 5,204 2,294 834 1,374 86 2,552 358

Dumfries and Galloway 2,204 992 419 288 285 738 474

		Fires
	Total incidents	All fires	Primary fires⁽¹⁹⁾	Secondary fires	Chimney fires	False alarms	Special services⁽²⁰⁾
United Kingdom	1,134,388	476,347	219,535	241,357	15,455	460,466	197,575
England and Wales	981,573	399,437	192,239	197,253	9,945	396,913	185,223
England	920,968	368,537	179,842	179,753	8,942	377,950	174,481
England—non-Met	494,149	196,655	101,497	86,934	8,224	204,765	92,729
Avon	18,410	7,330	4,372	2,837	121	8,070	3,010
Bedfordshire	8,180	3,617	2,070	1,485	62	3,239	1,324
Berkshire	13,742	4,755	2,589	2,054	112	6,796	2,191
Buckinghamshire	10,466	4,616	2,605	1,888	123	4,325	1,525
Cambridgeshire	12,707	4,156	2,374	1,678	104	6,412	2,139
Cheshire	14,521	6,975	3,020	3,778	177	5,374	2,172
Cleveland	16,023	8,256	3,199	5,028	29	5,759	2,008
Cornwall	6,332	2,656	1,405	848	403	2,197	1,479
Cumbria	7,778	3,524	1,724	1,538	262	3,349	905
Derbyshire	14,221	5,038	2,573	2,244	221	6,488	2,695
Devon	17,278	6,089	3,291	2,314	484	7,102	4,087
Dorset	10,219	3,723	1,838	1,646	239	4,547	1,949
Durham	11,434	5,978	2,411	3,317	250	3,916	1,540
East Sussex	14,290	4,845	3,013	1,603	229	5,720	3,725
Essex	25,481	9,405	4,776	4,474	155	10,015	6,061
Gloucestershire	7,300	2,853	1,664	929	260	2,654	1,793
Hampshire	22,920	9,116	4,175	4,602	339	9,266	4,538
Hereford and Worcs	9,174	3,725	1,951	1,514	260	3,469	1,980
Hertfordshire	13,581	5,296	3,081	2,127	88	6,234	2,051
Humberside	16,895	8,369	3,360	4,819	190	5,658	2,868
Isle of Wight	1,966	589	372	172	45	753	624
Kent	25,817	10,239	5,581	4,326	332	10,519	5,059
Lancashire	26,648	12,251	5,633	6,451	167	10,728	3,669
Leicestershire	13,806	5,386	2,900	2,346	140	5,771	2,649
Lincolnshire	7,252	3,134	1,824	1,105	205	2,334	1,784
Norfolk	9,403	3,889	2,267	1,312	310	4,043	1,471
North Yorkshire	10,784	3,575	2,082	1,153	340	4,131	3,078
Northamptonshire	10,047	4,681	2,586	1,943	152	3,833	1,533
Northumberland	5,174	2,655	1,109	1,339	207	1,876	643
Nottinghamshire	17,589	8,067	4,272	3,620	175	6,714	2,808
Oxfordshire	10,264	3,247	2,015	999	233	5,585	1,432
Shropshire	6,815	2,960	1,498	1,209	253	2,294	1,561
Somerset	7,754	2,740	1,614	745	381	3,306	1,708
Staffordshire	14,438	6,745	3,268	3,233	244	5,378	2,315
Suffolk	7,994	2,813	1,630	979	204	3,590	1,591
Surrey	15,569	4,099	2,348	1,623	128	8,282	3,188
Warwickshire	7,943	3,046	1,498	1,443	105	3,566	1,331
West Sussex	15,214	3,689	2,033	1,428	228	7,260	4,265
Wiltshire	8,688	2,516	1,470	780	266	4,203	1,969
Isles of Scilly	32	12	6	5	1	9	11
England(Met	426,819	171,882	78,345	92,819	718	173,185	81,752
Greater Manchester	59,675	29,201	14,953	14,189	59	24,217	6,257
Merseyside	37,808	21,278	8,406	12,810	62	12,625	3,905
South Yorkshire	24,293	12,135	5,116	6,844	175	9,168	2,990
Tyne and Wear	26,660	14,858	5,996	8,821	41	9,469	2,333
West Midlands	59,807	25,397	12,462	12,855	80	24,766	9,644
West Yorkshire	42,128	20,791	9,668	10,908	215	17,368	3,969
Greater London	176,448	48,222	21,744	26,392	86	75,572	52,654
Wales	60,605	30,900	12,397	17,500	1,003	18,963	10,742
North Wales	13,706	5,535	2,429	2,642	464	5,153	3,018
Mid and West Wales	16,991	8,623	3,931	4,309	383	4,917	3,451
South Wales	29,908	16,742	6,037	10,549	156	8,893	4,273
Northern Ireland	34,488	21,156	7,093	11,672	2,391	11,774	1,558
Scotland⁽²¹⁾	118,327	55,754	20,203	32,432	3,119	51,779	10,794
Strathclyde	60,265	29,641	10,235	18,920	486	25,881	4,743
Highland and Islands	4,980	2,319	644	657	1,018	2,127	534
Grampian	8,169	3,737	1,669	1,537	531	3,283	1,149
Tayside	9,169	4,522	1,645	2,644	233	3,828	819
Lothian and Borders	21,413	9,154	3,638	5,183	333	10,193	2,066
Fife	6,923	3,095	1,119	1,829	147	3,177	651
Central	5,204	2,294	834	1,374	86	2,552	358
Dumfries and Galloway	2,204	992	419	288	285	738	474

⁽¹⁸⁾ 2000 fire incident figures are provisional

⁽¹⁹⁾ Including additional Xlate" call and heat and smoke damage incidents

⁽²⁰⁾ Special service incidents relate to financial year 2000–01

⁽²¹⁾ Scottish special service data supplied by the Scottish Executive

19 Nov 2002 : Column 85W

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of (a) the population and (b) the land area of each fire brigade are covered by (i) retained and (ii) full-time firemen. [82016]

Mr. Leslie: Statutory responsibility for the provision of fire services rests locally with the fire authority. Information on the land area or population served by individual fire stations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Fire stations may be staffed by whole-time, retained firefighters or combination of the two. Fire cover is provided on a strategic basis because it is recognised that the appliances at any individual fire station are not the only resources available to that locality.

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